Davies, David Peter; A New Historical and Descriptive View of Derbyshire, from the Remotest Period to the Present Time. Belper, Printed and Published by and for S. Mason, 1811. Small quarto, pp. viii, 1, 717, 14 page index, folded engraved map of Derbyshire with outlining hand colored,, two plates (view of Derby, view of Belper).
The work is complete and in contemporary marbled boards with a later calf spine with raised bands and gilt spine titles. The boards are scuffed, spine is very clean with bright titles. The text, plates and folded map are very clean. Early ownership signature on front pastedown and notation “The Hollies, Belper”.
Davies was a English cleric in Makeney and the nephew of Rev. David Peter to whom he dedicates this work. Davies divides the work into eleven chapters. He describes the earliest known settlements in Derbyshire including the Celts, Romans and Normans and their archeological sites including the early Roman roads. This is followed by a discussion of the topography, geography and climate of the region. A lengthy chapter is devoted to the “subterraneous” geography, the mines, minerals, ores and geology of the region. Davies relies heavily on Mawe’s work The Mineralogy of Derbyshire. He discusses the ore deposits of lead, copper, fluorspar and other ores mined. He describes the mining methods, refining of the ores and their uses. Of particular interest is his description of the earliest known mining methods and earlier writings beginning with Plinni.
The work then describes the various towns the history of the towns, customs, religion, the churches, laws, industries and trades.
