A family firm despite its large size, the company was presided over
by four generations of the Ley family between 1873 and 1987. Both
the family and the foundry were embedded in the history of Derby
and their legacies can still be seen in the city today. The
Baseball Ground, built by Sir Francis Ley as a home for the game of
baseball, was sold by him to Derby County FC and has only recently
been demolished. Remnants of the factory buildings and offices,
which once covered an area of over 17 acres, can still be seen in
Derby streets. Bob Read, a former employee of Ley's, has put
together a fascinating survey of the history of the foundry. This
book uncovers a wealth of historical detail, and the account of the
firm's fortunes is lavishly illustrated with drawings, photographs
and ephemera that bring life to his story of a business that was
part of Derby life for over a century.