Allow me to acquaint you with one of Derby's most prominent symbols, "The Derby Ram." This traditional English folk song, also known as "As I was Going to Derby" and categorised as Roud 126, weaves a captivating narrative about a ram of colossal proportions and the challenges involved in processing its carcass, including butchering and tanning.
The song and the connection between a ram and the city of Derby have been embraced by several organisations located in the area. In 1855, the First Regiment of Derbyshire Militia adopted the ram as their symbol and the ballad as their regimental anthem. This tradition persisted through subsequent iterations of the regiment, including the 95th Derbyshire Regiment, the Sherwood Foresters Regiment, the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment, and the Mercian Regiment, as a result of regimental amalgamations.
Similarly, the football club, Derby County F.C., affectionately known as "The Rams," have chosen the ram as their official club mascot.
There are a number of References to a ram throughout the architecture of Derby – perhaps the most notable is a large street sculpture on the junction of East Street and Albion Street by Michael Pegler.
Representation of the ram in East Street, Derby
The following version is the one transcribed by Llewellynn Jewitt in The Ballads and Songs of Derbyshire (1867).
As I was going to Darby, Sir,
All on a market day,
I met the finest Ram, Sir,
That ever was fed on hay.
Daddle-i-day, daddle-i-day,
Fal-de-ral, fal-de-ral, daddle-i-day.
This Ram was fat behind, Sir,
This Ram was fat before,
This Ram was ten yards high, Sir,
Indeed he was no more.
Daddle-i-day, etc.
The Wool upon his back, Sir,
Reached up unto the sky,
The Eagles made their nests there, Sir,
For I heard the young ones cry.
Daddle-i-day,
etc.
The song was adapted by the English composer John Wall Callcott (1766–1821) into a 3 part glee "As I was going to Derby"
The Derby County Football Club's badge:
The Derby County Mascot "Rammy":
The ram outside the shopping centre:
Derby City Council’s logo is both a ram and a deer:
Radio Station 102.8 RAM FM
Ram FM was an Independent Local Radio station, which broadcast to central and southern parts of Derbyshire on 102.8 FM. The station merged with two other East Midlands stations, Trent FM and Leicester Sound to form Capital FM East Midlands (part of Global's Capital FM Network) on Monday 3 January 2011.
In 2021, there was a ram trail in Derby. The ram trail was put together by Derby Museums, together with Wild in Art and Presenting Partner, Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (BID). Wild in Art is a leading producer of creative events that transform places into free, family-friendly outdoor art galleries. The trail timed with the ease of lockdown restrictions in Derby during the Covid-19 Pandemic. This proved popular for children and tourists around Derby as each Ram was uniquely decorated.
Location of each Ram Statue.
The Derby Museum also displayed small ram figurines within their exhibit and offered the opportunity for visitors to purchase and decorate them as they desired. This particular activity garnered significant popularity among the city's children.
The Derby Ram Trail brought a £1.4 million boost to the city's economy as it recovered from the coronavirus lockdown.
Derby Museums, which ran the city's first ever sculpture trail, said that over 75 per cent of people surveyed following the initiative said they spent over £10 as they tried to spot all 30 rams, with groups spending an average of £35 in the city.
The trail, which ran from May to August 2021, welcomed thousands of visitors to Derby, with research showing that over half of people visited the city more than once to complete the trail and over 70 per cent were inspired to return in future.
Over the three months of the trail, over 32,000 maps were distributed and over 4,000 schoolchildren also took part in a Mini Rams competition from 21 city schools.
Boy and Ram statue by Wilfred Dudeney 1963 in Riverside Gardens, Derby city centre, Derbyshire, England UK.
The sculpture, depicting a barefoot boy riding a ram, was originally sited in the then newly built Main Centre in 1963. It was moved in 2005, when this was demolished to make way for today's Derbian shopping mall, (formerly called Westfield and later called Intu) I think the new location at the Derby River Gardens is quite nice, seeing a ram on a grass setting. I think this ram statue has a much nicer face than most of the others around the city.
Royal Crown Derby Rams
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The ram holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Derby, signifying a cultural and historical emblem that resonates deeply with the city's identity. Its importance is woven into the fabric of tradition, folklore, and local pride. The song "The Derby Ram" is not just a ballad; it's a piece of living history that connects Derby to its ancient pagan roots, reflecting a time when rituals and celebrations centred around the ram as a symbol of vitality and fertility. Over the years, this symbolism has evolved but remained significant, symbolising the resilience and spirit of Derby.
For the people of Derby, the ram is a cherished link to their past, an enduring source of community identity, and a symbol of unity that transcends generations. Its cultural importance serves as a testament to the enduring traditions that make Derby the unique and vibrant place it is today.
