This photograph is somewhat earlier than the previous
image of the Promenade Cafe. Many of the shop signs are
hard to read although Smiths Hotel sign,
about half way down, is clear. Close to it
is a vertical chemist's board; the chemist at the time
was Frank Slawson who advertised as a pharmaceutical chemist
of North Parade from 1912 onwards.
If you look carefully at the left hand of the two first
floor windows above the shop, or pair of shops, with the
long balcony close to the camera you can just make out the
word CLUB written on the glass. This was where Matlock Bath's
Conservative Club held their meetings for some years. In
1916 the secretary was Arthur Walker. He was succeeded by
Joseph F Donegani, who was followed by Joseph Oliver and
then Benjamin F O'Dowda[1].
The Club utilised the whole of the first floor of the building.
It isn't clear when the right hand unit became the
Promenade Café and it is difficult to work out what is being
sold in the shop or shops, but neither unit seems to
have been a restaurant at the time and may have been selling
china or ornaments either separately or as one unit.
The signboard for the George Hotel is
missing. The bracket is there, but no sign. So this photograph
could date from the First World War period rather than just
afterwards. |