Joseph Strutt's Address to 

Derby Town Council

Wednesday 16th September 1840

(Follow this link for the procession to the Arboretum.)

(Extracted from "The Derby Arboretum, A Catalogue of Trees and Shrubs")

Derby Town Hall 1840

75 year old Joseph Strutt made a passionate and emotional speech amidst loud applause and shouts of gratitude, to the Town Council on the morning of Wednesday September 16th 1840 when he handed them the Deed of Settlement to the Arboretum. The following transcript was extracted from the Derby and Chesterfield Reporter of September 24th 1840 and published in Loudon's book, The Arboretum, a Catalogue of Trees and Shrubs.

The memorable day was ushered in by merry peals from the bells of the many churches.  In every part of the town, at an early hour, the processes of decoration were begun, to do honour to the donor of one of the most munificent gifts made to the inhabitants of a town.  A gift, valuable now, but one that will become more so year after year, as the town increases.

Flags and banners were hung out of the windows of many of the tradesmen of the borough; the Royal Hotel was beautifully decorated.  At noon business was totally suspended throughout the town, and: -

 The Town Council

Assembled, the Arboretum Stewards and Committee wearing white rosettes.  Mr. Joseph Strutt was warmly greeted on his entrance into the Hall the gallery of which was filled with ladies, and the body of the Hall with the concourse of persons, such as we never witnessed at any previous meeting of the Council.

The Mayor, John Sandars, Esq., presided, and nearly all of the members were present.

The Mayor, after having stated the object for which the Council was assembled, and read the requisition requesting His Worship to appoint the meeting, called on Mr. Strutt to make his communication to them.

Mr. Joseph Strutt then rose, amid the plaudits of the Council, and read the following address

MR. STRUTTS ADDRESS TO THE TOWN COUNCIL OF DERBY

That there has of late been a rapid increase in the trade and population of the town of Derby is a fact, which cannot have escaped the observation of the members of this body, who have been selected by the inhabitants to watch over their local interests. Manufactures have been extending, new buildings have been erected on all sides, and a still further addition to the commercial importance of the town may be expected, in consequence of the completion on of three new railways, which, by their junction at this place offer great facilities for our intercourse with other parts of the kingdom and render Derby an important centre of communication. Whilst these works have been in progress, the improvement of the town has not been neglected and I should only have to refer to the recent improvements in our streets and public buildings to the establishment of our efficient Police; and to the almost unexampled success which has attended our Mechanics Institution, if I wished to give instances of the adoption of measures for promoting the convenience through good order, and the instruction of our population. (Applause.) But whilst means have been so creditably taken for these important objects, no provision has been made for supplying a scarcely less urgent want of the inhabitants of a large and increasing town the Opportunity of enjoying, with their families, exercise and recreation in the fresh air, in public walks and grounds devoted to that purpose. (Great Applause.)

I have observed, with great pleasure, that this subject has of late attracted the attention of Parliament, and that in all Enclosure Bills it is required that an open space shall be reserved for the exercise and recreation of the neighbouring population. (Cheers.) In this town we have no waste land, which can be appropriated to such a purpose, with the exception of Chester Green this piece of land were properly drained and levelled and if some alteration were made in the turnpike road, which passes through it, it might be converted into a place admirably suited for athletic sports and pastimes; and I care hope that it may soon be thus appropriated to the public. (Great Applause.) [Mr. Strutt here paused for a few moments, being overcome by the intensity of his feelings during which he was enthusiastically cheered].

With a view of further promoting the same objects, I have determined to appropriate a piece of land on the opposite side of the town containing nearly eleven acres, for the purpose of public walks for the recreation of the inhabitants. (Applause.) Being desirous of uniting, as much as possible information with amusement, I have been anxious not only that these walks should be laid out in the most advantageous manner, but that they should comprise a valuable collection of trees and shrubs, so arranged and described as to offer the means of instruction to visitors. These objects have been most ably and successfully accomplished by that distinguished Landscape. Gardener, Mr. Loudon, who entered largely and liberally into my views, and furnished the Plan, which has since been executed under his superintendence, and that of his able and excellent assistant and pupil, Mr. Rauch. (Applause.) Mr. Loudon has furnished me with a description of his Plan and Arrangements, which I have appended to this Address, and a copy of which I will send to every member of the Council. (Applause.)

Having thus prepared this piece of land for the intended purpose, I have given it the name of The ARBORETUM, and I have vested it in the following Trustees, viz. Pa

John Sandars Mayor

Edward Strutt,  Richard Forrester - Forrester, William Evans, John Thompson, Thomas Bent, William Leaper Newton, John Bell Crompton, John Barber, John Johnson, Douglas Fox, Jedediah Strutt, John Strutt, George Henry Strutt, Samuel Fox Jun. Thomas William Evans, Theodore Howard Galton, Walter Evans.

On the following conditions

1st. That the Arboretum shall be open to all classes of the public without payment, and subject only to such restrictions and regulations as may be become necessary for the observance of order and decorum, on every Sunday, and also on at least one other day in every week, from sunrise to sunset; except that it shall never be open earlier than six oclock in the morning, or later than nine oclock in the evening, and that it shall be closed between ten and one oclock on Sunday.

2d. That it shall be kept, in all seasons, in such order as the funds obtained by subscription, and by the admission of visitors on the other days of the week, shall allow.

3d. That it be under the direction of a Committee of Management, to consist of the Mayor for the time being, and six other gentlemen, four at least of whom shall be members of the Town Council, and of whom two shall go out every year, but shall he eligible to be re-elected. The gentlemen now to he appointed are to constitute the Committee of Management till the 9th of November 1841. As soon as elected, they will determine, by lot, which of their number shall go out after the first, and which after the second, year; and in succeeding years they will go out by rotation. The appointment of the Committee is always to take place on the same day as the election of the Mayor.

It will be the duty of the Committee to fix upon such terms of admission, on the days not appropriated to the public, as they may consider sufficient to keep the Arboretum in the perfect order in which it is now delivered to them by Mr. Loudon, and they will of course take his directions for their guide, in the management of the trees and shrubs. They will find in the grounds a number of fixed and movable seats, sufficient for the accommodation of 350 persons. The two lodges and the Cottage have also been supplied with fixtures and furniture, and a stock of the necessary tools and implements has been provided. An inventory of the whole will be delivered to the Committee, together with an account of the stock of labels for the plants, which will be found sufficient both for supplying next labels when required, and for replacing the old ones which may become obliterated. (great applause.)

The Cottage (see 1852 map) now occupied by Charles Brown and his family, I wish him to retain so long as he remains in my service, and conducts himself to the satisfaction of the Committee, paying to them two shillings per week, being the rent he has hitherto paid to me. 

I have purposely omitted any endowment to keep the Arboretum in order, as I know by experience that I shall best provide for its future preservation by intrusting it to those who will enjoy and profit by it, and who will take an interest in its permanence. (Shouts of applause.)

It has often been made a reproach to our country that in England collections of Works of Art, and Exhibitions for Instruction or Amusement, cannot, without danger of injury, be thrown open to the public. If any ground for such a reproach still remains, I am convinced that it can be removed only by greater liberality in admitting the people to such establishments; by thus teaching them that they are themselves the parties most deeply interested in their preservation, and that it must be the interest of the public to protect that which is intended for the public advantage. If we wish to obtain the affection and regard of others, we must manifest kindness and regard towards them; if we seek to wean them from debasing pursuits and brutalising pleasures, we can only hope to do so by opening to them new sources of rational enjoyment. It is under this conviction that I dedicate these Gardens to the Public and I will only add, that as the sun has shone brightly on me through life, it would be ungrateful in me not to employ a portion of the fortune which I possess, in promoting the welfare of those amongst whom I live, and by whose industry I have become aided in its acquisition. I now, therefore, present to the Council the Deed of Settlement, and all the writings relating to the Arboretum. (great Applause)

RESOLUTIONS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.

Dr. Bent rose and said it appeared from the deed which had just been completed and presented to the Council, that it was the wish of the munificent donor of the Arboretum, that it should be vested in a Committee, chosen annually, consisting of six persons and the Mayor of the Borough for the time being, four of them to be Members of the Council, and two other Persons, who might, or might not, be Members of the Council, as they thought fit, he was quite sure that they would cheerfully accede to the request of Mr. Strutt, and he had, therefore, great pleasure in moving the following resolution That the Council do comply with Mr. Strutts request, and take upon themselves the obligations imposed upon them by the Arboretum Deed of Settlement.

Dr. Bent then said that he should refrain from giving expression to his own sentiments, or alluding to the gratitude of the town for the noble act of munificence for the benefit of the borough, which they had just witnessed, as that he knew, would he done by others more capable of doing justice to the subject than he was. But he must be allowed to say that amongst the many honourable and beneficial favours conferred upon the town by Mr. Strutt, this was pre-eminent; and, towering above every other, entitled the generous donor of the Arboretum to the respect and gratitude of all the inhabitants of Derby. (Applause.) lie could do no more than express a sentiment in which he knew they would all concur that was, his wish that Mr. Strutt might live long to enjoy the honour and respect which he had so well earned during his long life, and which he had no doubt would be as cheerfully conceded to him as they were justly his due. (Great applause).

Mr. S. Gamble, in Seconding the resolution, could only join in the general expression of gratitude which was universally felt for the munificent gift just made to the town. He earnestly hoped that Mr. Strutt night live long to witness the good effects of his liberality; and to receive the honour and esteem to which his generosity justly entitled him. Carried unanimously, followed by loud cheers. 

Mr. Crompton felt peculiarly happy in taking part in furthering the views of the donor of this munificent gift to his fellow townsmen, and moved with great pleasure the following resolution That the following persons, namely, Dr. Forester, Dr. Bent, Mr. James Peet, Mr. Thomas Wright, Mr. Francis Jessopp, and Mr. John Johnson (all Members of the Council), be and they are hereby nominated and appointed to act, in conjunction with the Mayor for the time being, as the Committee of Management of the Arboretum. Mr. D. Fox felt that this was a subject for feeling, not for speaking, at least he could say so for himself, and this would be easily understood when his connexion with Mr. Strutt Was considered. He must confess that he could not express himself as he could wish, but he was sure they would all feel those sentiments which naturally arose in the mind, and that they did not need arousing by eloquent appeals to a sense of the value of the donation.

The Council members then left the Town Hall to join the procession to the Arboretum.

Top of Page Arboretum Home Page