Economic History

This section examines how people earned their living over the years. Before the early 19th century most people worked in farming,. By 1801 this had changed, and over three times as many worked in trade and manufacture as worked in agriculture. Light industry, such as the lace and textile trades, began to feature in the parish in the 19th century and many men were employed in heavy industry, such as the nearby Stanton Iron Works. There were opportunities for employment on the railway, and new industries in the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries attracted people to Stapleford and Sandiacre.

The decline of manufacturing industry began to take place in the middle of the 20th century. Companies were taken over and closed down. Others found that they could not compete with foreign imports. At the present date (2020) only Taylors Bros.(Sandiacre) Ltd survives, albeit under a different name. Today many people work outside the parish in local government, the National Health Service and the universities. Other major employers are Boots in Beeston and Rolls Royce and Toyota in Derby.

This section includes firms and companies that are, or were, based in Sandiacre, as well as those in Stapleford. This is partly to reflect the fact that the two are closely linked. People from both parishes went to work regardless of the county boundary. It also avoids having to minutely check the course of the old pre-1993 parish boundary to decide whether a factory is in Sandiacre or Stapleford.

Information about most of these companies is hard to obtain. Anyone who feels that they can add to the histories found here is very welcome to get in touch. (See the contact sheet.)