Joseph, youngest of Jedediah’s sons, became commercial manager for the mills. He lived in Derby, twice becoming mayor, the first non-conformist to serve in that role. In 1812, he was instrumental in setting up a Lancasterian school in Derby for children of poorer families. He gifted the Arboretum, often considered to be Britain’s first ever public park, to the town. Joseph was very interested in the arts and was an avid collector of paintings and sculpture from a variety of well known Italian, Flemish and British artists. He was also known to have a collection of artefacts including a complete Egyptian mummy in its case decorated with hieroglyphics.

(Taken from the new book The Strutt Mills of Belper and Milford, by the Belper North Mill Trust Volunteers – contact secretary@belperhistoricalsociety.co.uk for details of where copies are currently available)