This card was posted in 1914 and may
well have been published just before then. However, this
exceptionally good photograph is Victorian and was taken
from outside the Temple Hotel between 1887 and 1895.
Below the photographer on the left of the image is the zigzag
of Waterloo Road, with Waterloo Square close to the edge
of the picture. The Round House is top left. Holme Road goes
down the hill from there and Green Bank and Clarence Terrace
can be seen, with the Clarence just visible above Green Bank.
What provides a date for the image is the very large warehouse
looking building just below Clarence Terrace.
This was Albert Heights, a kind of Victorian fitness and
social centre with a skating rink[1].
The Matlock Bath Skating Rink Company Limited was formed
in 1876 and the rink was scheduled to open in June. They
were given exclusive use of the patented Primpton roller
skate[2] and
the enterprise was initially very successful,
as by mid June over 8,000 people had used the
rink[3]. By 1882
it was advertised as the only place in Matlock [Bath]
where parties could enjoy themselves under cover in wet weather.
It was described as a grand coffee palace, with temperance
dining rooms, new gardens and a skating rink. Visitors were
directed to go over the station bridge and about 50 yards
up the hill opposite[4].
Frederick Edwin Leggoe was
the rink's proprietor by this time[5] but
in 1891 William B Hunt was running it[5],
although he was not listed in Matlock Bath. Leggoe played
an active part in village life and was on the Local Board[7].
He seems to have a varied career with interesting range of
occupations, ranging from greengrocer, to accountant and
Salvation Army Officer with iron and steel manager thrown
in for good measure[8].
Albert Heights was demolished to make way for Rockvale Villas
and Rockvale Terrace, which were built just before the end
of the nineteenth century.
Of note is the horse drawn vehicle. The driver is seated quite
high up and the horses are pulling either a wooden caravan
or a covered waggon similar to a caravan as it has a semi-cylindrical
top. |
