Bank Road, photographed on a lovely summer's day in 1907. Apart from the tramcar ascending the hill, the only other vehicles are horse drawn. By 1910 or so the bright red post box on the right hand corner had been removed.

On the left of the image is the side view of the Crown Hotel, which had a glass roofed canopy extending from the hotel's side door to the edge of the pavement. Mr. William Tanzer, who was born in Long Eaton in 1854, was the licensee of the Crown at this time^[1]. He had taken over from Mr Joseph Tummon in 1902^[2] and was initially granted temporary permission by Matlock Petty Sessions in late May of that year to sell [alcohol] at the hotel^[3]. Next to the hotel are stone walls that surround a plot of land with two gateways, one facing the hotel entrance and the other facing the road. There were several notices stuck on this gate.

A little further along is a low boundary wall bordering Imperial Road Gardens; there seems to be a summer house or shelter in the grounds close to the garden's boundary.

Peter Holmes, a draper who had been brought up in Cromford, occupied no.1 Crown Buildings behind the lamp post on the right hand side of the road^[4]. He was the son of Sarah and Peter Holmes and his father worked as a tailor, which is how Peter would have learned his trade. The family were living on Alma Terrace, Cromford in 1871. Unfortunately, the elder Peter died suddenly in 1877 when returning home from working on Matlock Bank^[5]. As for the lamp post, this was a gas light with a mantle that had to be lit each evening. The side arms were for the lamplighter to rest has ladder against when he changed the mantle.

Mr. Holmes initially set up in business on Dale Road, moving from there between 1892 and 1893^[6]. The name board above the door is his second shop sign. Hats are on display behind the blind in the first floor window. A milliner, Miss Gertrude Corrall, was living with the family in 1901^[4]. She married Edward Croft in 1902, by which time she had worked for Peter Holmes for eight years^[7].

The Holmes family moved from Matlock to Quorn in Leicestershire around 1907-8, which was when Mr. Beard took over the premises. Peter Holmes seems to have then given up work - an obituary stated that he had been ill for some years - and he passed away at Quorn on 3 November 1919, aged 62. He was then described as a gentleman^[8].

Mr. Tanzer's 1903 Advertisement for the Crown Hotel

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References (coloured links are to transcripts or more information elsewhere on this web site):

^[1] William Tanzer can be found in Matlock's Historical Records. See Kelly's 1908 Directory | Kelly's 1912 Directory | Kelly's 1916 Directory. He retired some time before his wife, Elizabeth died on 4 March 1919 in Matlock. He subsequently moved back to Long Eaton, his birthplace, where he passed away ton 30 August 1929, aged 76.

^[2] Joseph Tummon was at the Crown Hotel in the 1901 census. He advertised in Kelly's Directory 1899. The "Nottingham Evening Post" of 4 September 1929 recorded his death.

^[3] "Derbyshire Times", 7 June 1902.

^[4] Peter Holmes was at 1 Crown Buildings in the 1901 census.

^[5] A report in the "Sheffield Independent", 15 November 1877, described Peter Holmes senior stopping at Mr. Barnes' Refreshment Rooms for a rest and a cup of tea as he felt unwell, then going a little further along the road before becoming ill again. He was taken into Mr Dakin's house, but after about half an hour he passed away there. Peter Holmes senior had advertised in the Cromford sections of White's Directory, 1852 | White's Directory, 1857 | Kelly's Directory, 1864.

^[6] He was at Matlock Bridge in 1894 as he advertised for a milliner, who was also required to serve in the drapery if needed ("Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser ",12 March 1894) but the premises he occupied was not recorded. Howver, we know he was in Crown Square in 1893. Also see the 1891 census | Kelly's Directory 1891 | Kelly's Directory 1895 | Kelly's Directory 1899 |

^[7] "Derbyshire Times", 20 September 1902.

^[8] Peter Holmes junior was living at Chaveney Road, Quorn with his wife and son in 1911, and no occupation was given for him. His death was recorded in the "Derbyshire Courier", 15 November 1919.