Having a Google

Having a few moments to spare I opened Google Maps and had a wander down Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield. Much was familiar, but in the twenty-five years since I moved from the town a number of landmarks have disappeared.

The Terminus Hotel, so named as it was at the end of the tram line from Whittington Moor, has been demolished and replaced by retirement flats. Not called Terminus Court I note.

The Terminus was a pub caught in a 1930s time warp.  Then it all changed and went 'posh'.  Some of the pub's characters adapted to the change very easily, they were oblivious to the up-market image the proprietors were keen to develop. One of the regulars was Harry Hall who had spent his life as a showman and ran Harry Hall's Amusements in Matlock Bath.   A larger-than-life figure Harry would regale us with stories.  Harry liked a Turkish bath and decided he would visit a local massage parlour.  Unfortunately Harry did not understand that such places were not for a good massage, but had a rather different purpose.  Harry was caustic in his criticism of the massage he had received.

Further down Chatsworth Road was Bradbury Hall owned by Robinson & Sons, a major company in the area.  The hall was used as the works' canteen and once a year was given over to the company based operatic society.  The performances were fun, but not of  a high standard.  One year the highlight for me was the appearance on stage of an individual who announced in a very broad Derbyshire accent that he was Captain Lopez of the Mexican police force.  Our small party applauded vigorously and by the end of the performance Captain Lopez was the undisputed star of the show. 

The hall was taken over of Mike Watterson and turned into an up-market snooker hall.  Mike had been the promoter of the World Snooker Championship at The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Further down Chatsworth Road was Brampton Brewery, then closed, now demolished.  I never had the pleasure of drinking Brampton Mild, but older boozers' eyes would glaze over in fond remembrance of the drink.

One establishment still open is The Star.  The former landlady, who had a passing resemblance to Hilda Baker, was a gem.  The highlight of the year was the visit of Charlie Drake who stayed at the pub.  The regulars would treat him as any other customer and would be rewarded with moments of comedy.  I was never impressed by Charlie as a performer on television, but in the flesh he was very funny.
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