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Fish Pond Stables, Matlock Bath, 1907
Matlock Bath, Twentieth Century Photographs, Postcards, Engravings & Etchings
 
The Fish Pond Stables were the starting point for many journeys to other destinations in Derbyshire
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(The Kursaal), 1915
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This card, postmarked 23 Sep 1907, was sent to Mr. Webber of Southtown, Gt Yarmouth from his sister Eva who describes Matlock Bath as "a lovely place Charming scenery .... perfect weather".

It shows the Heights of Abraham, the Temple Hotel, part of South Parade near the Fishpond Hotel and the Fish Pond Stables (foreground, centre and right) which were demolished to make way for the Royal Pavilion. The Pavilion, initially called the Kursaal, was built in 1910 - just three years after this card was posted. There are some beautiful carriages in the stables' yard next to Boden's Refreshment and Dining Rooms. The white painted advertisement on the side of the shop (on the left) is next to the Fishpond Hotel and advertises the Fish Pond Hotel, the Stables and cycles.

"The Briddons owned and ran the livery stables which stood on the site of the Pavilion. ... The livery stables would be quite busy bearing in mind that the Royal Hotel had no stabling at all and Matlock Bath was the starting off place for 4-in-hand and 6-in-hand horse drawn coaches which set off to Dovedale, Baslow and a host of other places. When the livery stables finished Briddon sold off his business and started as an hotelier near Dovedale. ... Some of the stabling moved to Portland Mews on Clifton Road. Furniss of Matlock took over much of the coach business. They had a booking hall tucked into the corner where the bus stop is at the bottom of the hill by the Fishpond Hotel[1]". The Briddons were Herbert Briddon and his sons Frederic and Cecil[2]. Furniss of Matlock was William Furniss, cab & coach proprietor & hay & straw dealer[3].


No publisher details provided.
Postcard in the collection of, provided by and © Ann Andrews Research is intended for personal use only

References (the coloured links are to onsite transcripts):

[1] Reminiscences of the late Mr. Frank Clay, from his private papers and notes owned by the webmistress.
[2] The Briddon family is Living in Matlock Bath in the 1891 census and 1901 census. Herbert Briddon advertised in Kelly's 1895 Directory and Kelly's 1899 Directory
[3] William Furniss advertised in both Kelly's 1908 Directory and Kelly's 1916 Directory