Page 3 - HeritageEbooklet

Welcome to Osmaston

When Rolls-Royce moved to Derby in 1907, the small rural village of
Osmaston was transformed into a flourishing centre of industrial activity.
Over the ensuing years, the company has employed thousands of local
people and its name has become synonymous with quality and reliability.

Throughout its long and proud history in Derby, Rolls-Royce has embraced
change, adapted and evolved, and established a global reputation as a leading
manufacturer of aero engines. The company rose to the challenge of two
world wars, survived a financial crash in 1971, and entered the twenty-first
century as an internationally renowned name in engineering.
Osmaston’s residents have proven to be equally resilient. The neighbourhood
has a strong sense of identity, an indomitable community spirit, and a
forward-thinking and capable residents’ association. Local people are proud
of Osmaston’s heritage and are being encouraged to have their say and
influence how the area is developed.

This short guide looks back on Osmaston before and after the arrival of
Rolls-Royce, and describes the hard-working community that has populated
its changing landscape. The content is based on historical information and
the memories and recollections of local residents. It tells the stories that
say: this is our history; this is our community; this is Osmaston.
We are indebted to local resident Mick Whitehead and other contributors
to the publication A Potted History of Osmaston, which has been a key source
of information for this booklet. Our thanks also to Rolls-Royce plc for
sharing their knowledge and the use of photographs from their archive. We
are also grateful to Cactus Images and Picture the Past for permission to
use their photographs.

www.picturethepast.org.uk is a not-for-profit project that makes archived images of
photographs, slides, postcards, engravings and other resources available from the libraries
and museums of Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

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