Our last stop on this trip was the city of Derby – the county town of Derbyshire and the site of the world’s first factory. The county was considered to be the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. The Waterstones here is located in a grand building called Babington Buildings, built in 1898 as a Boot and Shoe Emporium, and is set over three floors. It is a beautiful building both outside and in.
The ‘Knife Angel’
We were fortunate to be in Derby for two art installations at Derby Cathedral. Outside was the National Monument Against Violence and Aggression sculpture, better known as the ‘Knife Angel’. Made from more than 100,000 confiscated and amnestied blades, he stands over eight metres high and is dedicated to victims of knife crime.
The Museum of the Moon
Inside the cathedral was the Museum of the Moon by UK artist Luke Jerram. The model of the moon, which was suspended from the ceiling, is seven metres high and at a scale of approximately 1:500,000. Images of the moon’s surface from NASA cover the surface of the sculpture. I was lucky to be able to view it as the cathedral was closing for a music event and they stopped people queuing about 15 minutes after I arrived!
Janet's Adventures in Waterstones 