Markeaton Brook rises outside the city and flows through Markeaton Park, from where it takes its name. It then continues its journey through the town eventually joining the River Derwent. Although it now appears as quite a minor and insignificant body of water it has actually played an extremely important part in the history of Derby. It was by its banks at Wardwick that one of the earliest settlements was established in Saxon times. Later it became important in the industrial development of the town with the development of huge numbers of mills along its banks. It was also responsible for a great many floods within the town and as a result it was eventually culverted, today flowing under Bold lane, the Strand, Victoria and Albert streets.

The images in the gallery below approximately follow the walk from the point at which the brook goes underground at Brook Walk, then back through Markeaton Recreation Ground, the old West End and eventually to the beautiful area of Sturgess Fields.