History of the Branch

The Branch was founded in 1872, with the first Honorary Secretary being a Miss Mosley of Burnaston House, Derby.

In 1931 the Branch Area Inspector was Inspector Busby who apart from his daily duties gave lectures on animal welfare.

In April 1931 the Annual General Meeting was held at the Queen's Hall. The President of the Branch at the time was Brigadier-General Godfrey Meynell. He said that a great many people were handicapped by not knowing the proper course of action to take when they came across some of the appalling cases of animal cruelty which were still found up and down the British Isles.

In 1936 the Derbyshire East Branch replaced their Branch motorcycle with an Austin Seven Motor Van at the cost of £112.10.

It was not until June 1940 that the plot of land at the corner of Abbey Street and Macklin Street, the site of the present Centre, was purchased. Most of the present Centre buildings were only built in the last twenty years.

The Derby and District Branch now encompasses the old Branch of Derbyshire East and part of the old Buxton and District Branch.