21 photos taking you on a nostalgic tour of Derby in the 40s and 50s

Did you know the heritage-rich city of Derby only gained city status in 1977?

Before that it was a bustling market town which grew rapidly in the industrial age.

We thought it would be interesting to explore the origins of Derby, in particular the city centre.

We may be taking a leisurely stroll through time with this brand-new photo gallery, however it is important to bear in mind the standing of the city today.

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Derby continues to attract big hitters such as Rolls-Royce, Alstom (formerly Bombardier Transportation) and Toyota.

In the 21st century it’s a lean mean machine and hub for advanced transport manufacturing including rail, automotive and aerospace industries.

For now, let us enjoy a spot of time travel and delve into some photo archives of Derby city centre.

If you have any memories or old Derby photos that you would like to share, please do get in touch by emailing [email protected], we would love to hear from you.