For many years Burgons grocery store occupied the mock Tudor building on the corner of Causeway Lane and Crown Square (opposite Orme's). Burgons had arrived in Matlock at the beginning of the twentieth century^[1]. They had branches throughout the Midlands and in 1912 their Derbyshire branches were at Bakewell, Buxton and in Crown Square. Another business, Burgon and Son, was trading at Norton^[2]. Burgons stores used the logo of a black elephant for their own brands and a black elephant symbol can still be seen on the back of the building today^[3].

Most of the views of Crown Square have been taken from the bridge looking towards Matlock Bank, whereas this photo was taken from Bakewell Road looking towards Hall Leys Park and the Riber hillside. The small gardens in front of the Crown Hotel seem to have been removed by the time the picture was taken. The painting and decorating firm of C. J. Else & Co. Ltd. was on the opposite side of the road.

Zebra crossings had been brought in as a safety measure in October 1951, but it was found that although they were easy to see in the summer, they were not bright enough for the motorists to see on dark and wet nights. The following year a flashing Belisha Beacon was introduced as a warning signal to cut down on the accidents. The zebra crossings on the picture indicate that the original photograph was probably taken about 1952. The pre war lamp post was still in the middle of the traffic island but was about to be replaced.

1930s advertisement for Burgons

Burgon's in Kelly's Directory of 1908
Burgon's in Kelly's Directory of 1912
Burgon's in Kelly's Directory of 1916

Bank Road & the Steep-Gradient Tramway. Burgon's can be seen in a photo near the bottom of the page - behind a tram in Crown Square.

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

^[1] Burgon's did not advertise in Kelly's 1899 Directory, but in January 1902 Messrs Burgon and Company Grocers Limited "have a shop at the Bridge". This was a report of an embezzlement charge against a traveller for the firm who was eventually fined and imprisoned by the court ("Derbyshire Times", 15 Feb 1902). Burgon's Buildings were listed in an advertisement in 1903 when Wm. Else, Corn merchant, advertised Thorley's Cake ("Derbyshire Times", 5 Dec 1903).

^[2] Kelly's Directory of 1912.

^[3] Go to the Just Matlock images (item 16) where there is a link to a modern photograph.