NOTES ON OLD BELPER AND OLD BELPER BOOKS. I ^ 



good in the town and neighbourhood. During his life, the popu- 

 lation of Belper was at its greatest increase, and houses and shops 

 showed a proportionate improvement. At the time of the first 

 market in Belper, there was only one grocer's shop and not 

 a single draper's shop in the town ; Derby and Wirksworth being 

 chiefly relied upon for finery and provisions. Coal was obtained 

 from the Dally, and at an earlier period from Dunge Wood. Mr. 

 Henry Lomas remembers seeing working men returning to their 

 homes from the Dally Pits carrying the coal (called Dally Puffers) 

 on their heads. Mr. John Strutt purchased the land and shut 

 down the pit, converting the water from them to the use of 

 the neighbouring farms. Mr. Mason saw the mills of W. G. & J. 

 Strutt being erected, and the firm finding 1,300 hands a daily 

 occupation. Nail-making then, as now, was on the downward 

 grade. The postmaster of Belper was Mr. Thomas Haslem, and 

 the letters for Derby, Wirksworth, Matlock, and other places were 

 forwarded by horse-post. Carriers for goods and passengers were 

 despatched to all the neighbouring towns. The "Peveril of the 

 Peak " coach from Manchester called at the George and Dragon 

 Inn, in Bridge Street, then the chief inn of the town, at six 

 o'clock in the evening. The Royal Bruce, in connection with the 

 London coaches, called on its way to Manchester at the same 

 hostelry, whilst the Telegraph carried passengers from Birmingham 

 to Shefifield, and gave its patronage to the Lower Black Swan Inn, 

 near the Market Place. In such days, the opportunities of a man 

 like Samuel Mason were many, and it is to his credit that he in no 

 way abused his position and responsibilities. 



George Mason, succeeded his father in the business in 1825. 

 He continued printing the reports of the Belper Bible Society 

 until the year 1834, when they were alternately printed with John 

 Rosewarne, who came to reside in Belper about that time. 

 Several hymn-books were printed by the Masons, one for 

 St. Peter's Church. — "A new selection of | hymns | from various 

 authors. | Belper ; | printed and published by George Mason.'' 

 A volume of hymns, compiled by and printed for Mr. George H. 

 2 



