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Vernon Street, Vernon Gate and South Street form part of Derby's Friar Gate Conservation Area.

The following information is summarised from Derby City Council's 2012 Conservation Area Appraisal (see
Link ).

Vernon Street (and South Street) is an example of Regency town planning laid out in 1826-8 as part of Francis Goodwin’s County Gaol scheme. His ambitious scheme laid out Vernon Street as a sort of triumphal avenue from Friar Gate leading directly to the façade of the new gaol. South Street ran across the façade, bisecting an elliptical open space at the south end of Vernon Street, once known as The Crescent.

The land in front of the Gaol was used for public executions until 1862. Francis Goodwin was also responsible for St John’s Church in Bridge Street.

Vernon Street was a planned early 19th century development where the buildings have been built in strict conformity with parallel building lines on either side of a wide street designed to align directly with the façade of the former County Gaol. Despite the demolition of the main gaol buildings, the relationship of street, buildings, open space and planned vista has been retained. Vernon Street is a good example of Regency town planning that provides a historically interesting contrast to the Georgian planned development of the north side of Friar Gate of 60 years earlier.