The Derby Catacombs (also referred to as the Guildhall

Catacomb Catacombs are man-made subterranean passageways for religious practice. Any chamber used as a burial place is a catacomb, although the word is most commonly associated with the Roman Empire. Etymology and history The first place to be referred ...

s) are a series of

tunnel A tunnel is an underground passageway, dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, and enclosed except for the entrance and exit, commonly at each end. A pipeline is not a tunnel, though some recent tunnels have used immersed tube cons ...

s running beneath the

city of Derby Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby gain ...

, most notably beneath the Marketplace and

Derby Guildhall Derby Guildhall is a municipal building in the Market Place, Derby, England. It is a Grade II listed building. History A moot hall was first established in the Market Place area in 1204. This was replaced by a timber and plaster guildhall in 15 ...

. Access to the tunnels is available via a back room of the nearby Tiger pub. During the

Victorian era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardia ...

, the tunnels were used to ferry

prisoner A prisoner (also known as an inmate or detainee) is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement, captivity, or forcible restraint. The term applies particularly to serving a prison sentence in a prison. ...

s between the police station at "Lock-Up Yard" and the

Courts of Assize The courts of assize, or assizes (), were periodic courts held around England and Wales until 1972, when together with the quarter sessions they were abolished by the Courts Act 1971 and replaced by a single permanent Crown Court. The assizes e ...

s, held at the Guildhall.

References

Tunnels in Derbyshire Geography of Derby {{Derbyshire-struct-stub