crich area community news
Crich Heritage Partnership Photo Archive
Brian Gibbons
Crich Heritage Partnership was formed with the aim of preserving the various elements of local history within Crich and the surrounding area.
One of its early accomplishments was the formation of the Crich Heritage Photo Archive. Many of the photographs from the Archive were originally included in the book “The Spirit of Crich, Whatstandwell, Fritchley & surrounding areas”, written by Ken Jackson and published in 2004. Currently this book is only available second-hand.
In order to publicise the existence of the Archive more widely it is hoped to print some of the photographs in the Crich Area Community News on a regular basis. If readers can add anything else to the narrative about the people in these photographs or the location or period when the image was taken, all contributions will be gratefully received. We would also welcome the opportunity to talk to any residents who might like their memories of Crich recorded and added to the archive.
This postcard, which was produced by local shopkeeper and entrepreneur Ernest Blount, shows the Cross in Crich in 1935. Clearly Mr Blount did not like the additions to the Cross, describing it as “A grotesque signpost. Crich Cross
disfigured by Derbyshire County Council.” Nowadays it might be regarded as “minimising street furniture” for road safety purposes!
(Photograph courtesy of Beryl Calladine)
The Blount Stores and Tea Rooms, Market Place, Crich in 1910. It was from this store that Ernest Blount would have sold his postcards as well as what appears to be drapery goods.
(Photograph courtesy of Beryl Calladine)
This photograph is recorded in the CHP photo database as being of Lea Mills workers celebrating the Relief of Mafeking in 1900. The style of dress for the people in the image certainly appears to support this. But just to the right
of the (gas?) lamp post seems to be Crich Stand. Was the lamp post fuelled by gas or perhaps oil?
Can anybody help us to confirm or otherwise identify the location of this photograph? If you can, then please contact the Editor in the usual way and he will pass on your comments.
(Photograph courtesy of Les Barber)