A large sum was needed to replace the General Infirmary in Derby, and money was raised from the general public for the rebuild. The following article was published in "The Derby Mercury" in 1891 describing the efforts then being made by Matlock residents to support the project financially.

"The Matlock district having been undertaken by Mr. F. C. Arkwright, meetings are being held in each of the eight parishes for the purpose of organising a house to house canvass. Mr. Arkwright has already attended five of these meetings, and the remaining three will be held this week. The following resolutions have been adopted at each place and collecting committees formed; and the work of canvassing from house to house is now in full swing.-

(1) "That the rebuilding of the Derby Infirmary is a matter which concerns every inhabitant of this district, more especially the working classes."
(2) "That in the opinion of this meeting an opportunity should be given to every family in the district to contribute towards the great and necessary work of re-building the Derby Infirmary, and that the best means of accomplishing this object is to make a collection from house to house."

At Matlock Bridge, on the 6th, the first resolution was proposed by Mr. Job Smith, C.C., and seconded by the Rev. J. Kewley (rector); and the second by Mr. C. C. Radford, J.P., seconded by Dr. William Harrison, J.P. At Lea, on the 7th, Mr. Miers and Mr. Middleditch proposed the resolutions ; at Cromford, on the 8th, Mr. Parker and Mr. Barker ; at Matlock Bath, on the 9th, Mr. C. A. Peters and Rev. C. Baker (vicar), Mr. T. Clarke, and Rev. F. R. Bellamy ; and at Bonsall, on the 9th, Mr. Jessie Henstock and Rev. J. Kitchingman. Subscriptions were announced from this district amounting to 927l., which are now added to the general subscription list advertised in another column [see below] ; so it is probable that the sum mentioned by Mr. Arkwright (1,000l.) as that which he hoped to be able to announce by the day of the Queen's visit will be easily reached"^[1].

Amongst the Public Notices in the same edition of the newspaper was a list of individuals and groups who had subscribed to the Rebuilding Fund. They either lived either in Derby itself or in various districts within the county. The section relating to Matlock is reproduced below. The sum donated from the estate of Sir Joseph Whitworth was especially generous^[2].

After Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone in May, 1891, the hospital changed its name and became the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. The new hospital was opened by the Duke of Devonshire on 7th July, 1894^[3].

l. in the above text = £

MATLOCK DISTRICT Devisees of the late Sir Jos. Whitworth ... Mr. J. B. Marsden Smedley ... ... Mr. R. Wildgoose ... ... ... Mr. Wm. Walker ... ... ... Mr. C. A. and Mrs. Peters ... ... ... Rev. H. Arkwright ... ... ... Miss S. A. Arkwright ... ... ... Mr. Wm. Harrison ... ... ... Mr. Thomas Clarke ... ... ... Mr. C. Collinson ... ... ... Sir. R. Ark[w]right and Company's Workpeople Mr. J. H. Quillam ... ... ... Mr. W. B. Hunter ... ... ... Mr. C. Sorby ... ... ... Mr R. M. Jones ... ... ... Mr. J. C. Drabble ... ... ... Mr. J. Tyack ... ... ... Hon. C. W. Trollope ... ... ... Mr. J. Willn ... ... ...

£- s. d. 500- 0- 0 100- 0- 0 50- 0- 0 50- 0- 0 50- 0- 0 50- 0- 0 25- 0- 0 21- 0- 0 20- 0- 0 10-10- 0 10-10- 0 10-10- 0 10- 0- 0 5- 0- 0 5- 0- 0 5- 0- 0 3- 3- 0 1- 1- 0 1- 1- 0

W. J Reid, Captain
     Secretary

18 Iron-gate, Derby. May 11th, 1891.

Overall total at that stage, including Matlock donations - £40,978 7s 0d^[4].

A further list of subscribers was published in a week later^[4], though both lists were, seemingly, drawn up on the same date. There were two lists on the same page. The first consisted of additional subscribers to the Rebuilding Fund and the section relating to Matlock is reproduced below. The second list was of individuals and businesses making donations to the Derby Mayor's Street Decoration Fund for the Queen's visit to Derby, when she was to lay the foundation stone for the new hospital; this list is not included as nobody from Matlock was named^[5].

Additional Subscriptions

Mr. R. W. Hackwood, Matlock Bath [not included in the Matlock totals] FURTHER LIST FROM MATLOCK DISTRICT Sir Joseph C. Lee ... ... ... Mr. A. S. Marsden Smedley ... Mr. A. Clay ... ... ... Mr. C. Hill ... ... ... Mr. H. Knowles ... ... ... Rev. F. C. Atkinson ... ... ... Rev. C. H. Leacroft ... ... ... Mr. A. M. Alsop ... ... ... Mr. George Drabble ... ... ... Mr. C. C. Bradford ... ... ... Mr. W. H. Middleditch ... ... ... Mr. C. Rowland ... ... ... Mr. J. Broome ... ... ... Rev. A. Lowe ... ... ... Mr. Job Smith, C.C. ... ... ... Mr. John J. Hope ... ... ... Mrs. Marsden Smedley ... ... ... Mr. W. Yeomans ... ... ... Mr. J. Miers ... ... ... Mr. S. F. Wheatcroft ... ... ... Mr. John Boden ... ... ... Mr. S. Robinson ... ... ... Mrs. Goodwin ... ... ... Mr. George Goodwin ... ... ... Mr. G. B. Barton ... ... ... Mr. Thomas Sayles ... ... ... Mr. H. Shipley ... ... ... Mr. A. Douglas ... ... ... Mr. C. Else ... ... ... Mr. H. Barnard ... ... ... Mr. Michael Wright ... ... ... Mr. J. Lowe ... ... ... Mr. J. Watts ... ... ... Mr. S. Buxton ... ... ... Mr. W. J. P. Burton ... ... ... Mr. W. H. Lowe ... ... ... Mr. Thomas Walker ... ... ... Mr. H. Biggs ... ... ... Mr. J. Douglas ... ... ... Sums under 10s. ... ... ... *Previously acknowledged ... ...

£- s. d. 1- 0- 0 100- 0- 0 100- 0- 0 30- 0- 0 25- 0- 0 25- 0- 0 20- 0- 0 10- 0- 0 5- 0- 0 5- 0- 0 5- 0- 0 5- 0- 0 3- 3- 0 2- 0- 0 1- 1- 0 1- 1- 0 1- 1- 0 1- 2- 6 1- 1- 0 1- 1- 0 1- 1- 0 1- 1- 0 1- 1- 0 1- 0- 0 1- 0- 0 1- 0- 0 1- 0- 0 1- 0- 0 1- 0- 0 1- 0- 0 0- 10 0 0- 10 0 0- 10 0 0- 10 0 0- 10 0 0- 10 0 0- 10 0 0- 10 0 0- 10 0 0- 10 0 18- 4 0 __________ 374-17- 6 227-15- 0 __________ £1302-12- 6

Total to date - £44,155 11s 9d

W. J Reid, Captain
     Secretary

18 Iron-gate, Derby. May 11th, 1891.^[4]

References:

^[1] "The Derby Mercury", Wednesday, 13 May, 1891 (District News).
^[2] ibid., Wednesday, 13 May, 1891 (Public Notices).
^[3] Buxton, David (1992) "Derbyshire of One Hundred Years Ago", Alan Sutton Publishing Limited Stroud Gloucestershire and Derbyshire County Council ISBN 0-7509-0216-7
^[4] ibid., Wednesday, 20 May, 1891
^[5] Queen Victoria's visit was to take place on Thursday 21st May 1891. After she laid the foundation stone there was to be a Royal Procession in the Market Place. Additional trains were laid on by the Midland Railway Company and "Windows to Let" were advertised, especially in St. Peter's Street through as the procession was to travel through the street twice. An evening Firework Display was also planned at the Arboretum and included an "Immense Transparent Fire Portrait of He Majesty".