Now a market and industrial town in a colliery district, Ripley gave London one of its most famous roofs, and India one of its most famous men. It began to flourish with the well-known Butterley ironworks where the roof of St Pancras Station was made. They were founded in 1792 by a group of men that included Benjamin Outram, the engineer who introduced iron railways into collieries. He lived at Butterley Hall, the great house in which was born his famous son Sir James, whose great career in the East earned for him the title of the Bayard of India, and a place in Westminster Abbey.
Train buffs will no doubt be heading directly to Butterley Station, the home of the Midland Railway Centre. Here is offered a nostalgic trip behind main line steam or diesel locomotives through the Derbyshire countryside. In addition, it is a railway theme park which features some twenty steam locomotives more than twenty-five diesel and electric locomotives. This, together with narrow gauge, miniature garden, and model railways all make up a unique attraction. There is even the opportunity of driving a full sized steam locomotive.
As an extension of the railway theme park is the new Brittain Pit Farm Park and their award winning country park.
On a totally different 'track’ the Chelsee pine design company on Nottingham Road will make all visitors very welcome and will be pleased to show them their extensive range of hand made furniture.
Another fame name associated with Ripley was Barnes Wallis, the son of the local doctor. He was to become the most eminent of aviation engineers in the 20th century...Possibly most famous for his 'Dam Busters' raid.
