Ripley, Derbyshire

Ripley
Nottingham Road, Ripley
Population	21,097
OS grid reference	SK398505
District	Amber Valley
Shire county	Derbyshire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	RIPLEY
Postcode district	DE5
Dialling code	01773
UK Parliament	Amber Valley

Ripley is a town in the English county of Derbyshire.

Earliest history

Ripley existed in 1086 when it was held by a man called Levenot. In 1251 Henry III said there could be a weekly market here and two annual fairs. In 1291 there were "two water-mills with fish ponds" in Ripley.

Industry

The Ripley area has been industrialized since the late 18th century.

One of the earliest companies to take advantage of mineral resources around Ripley was Butterley Engineering, which started in 1790. One of the early, and most well known, examples of the work of the company includes the graceful arched roof of St. Pancras Station in London, recently restored as an international rail terminal. A recent Butterley achievement was the design and construction of the Falkirk Wheel which lifts large canal boats.

Notable residents

• Bombardier Charles Stone who was awarded the VC was born here.
• Barnes Wallis, inventor of the 'Bouncing bomb' lived for a time in Ripley. One of the town's parks is named after him.

Education

• Ripley Mill Hill School, Peasehill
• Swanwick Hall School, Swanwick Hill, Swanwick
• John Flamsteed School, Derby Road, Denby