Chesterfield's Lost Pubs
From: InnSpire - Issue 22 – December 1999

Chesterfield today has only a fraction of the pubs that once existed in the town. Excluding the modern bars that have sprung up in recent times, only 30 old pubs still remain open from well over a hundred that have existed at some time since the early 1800’s. Although the pubs may have been closed for many years, some buildings still survive today with diverse uses from building society to Church community centre.

Of these perhaps the best known, although much altered, is the Peacock Information Centre on Low Pavement. Originally a Brampton Brewery house, the Peacock Inn closed at the end of 1973. The building became badly vandalised, but it was during this time that it was discovered that the structure was timber framed and one of the oldest surviving buildings in the town. The renewed interest saved the building from demolition and brought about its renovation by the Borough Council. The familiar glazed tile lower façade of the pub, which had been added around the turn of the century was removed during restoration, as was the central doorway. The restored building was opened as the town’s Information centre in November 1981. The only remaining reference to the pub today are the original copper letters, once part of the roof name board, displaying ‘Peacock’ on a wall in the rear yard.

Another important building survives on St. Mary’s Gate. The Grade II listed offices adjoining the Anchor Inn (now Chandlers) were once the Scarsdale Hotel. This mid-18th century building was originally a house, at one time owned by wine and spirit merchant, George Muggliston, who ran his business from the adjoining shop. The concern was sold to John and Frederick Dunnell who rebuilt the shop premises displaying their initials and the building date of 1854 on the pediment, as can be seen today. When the Scarsdale Brewery was formed in 1866 the house was converted into the hotel, with the adjoining shop and bar known as the ‘Scarsdale Vaults’. The hotel had a short existence and soon became the offices of the brewery, until closure of the concern in 1959. It remained unused and derelict until restoration began in the 1980’s. The Vaults closed in 1928 when the licence was removed to the newly built Highfields Hotel. It has since been used as a shop, more recent occupiers being Bates Electrical; Comet and now Holywell Carpets.

A building on Glumangate which has recently become of interest to CAMRA members because of its range of bottle conditioned and other beers, was formerly the Cavendish Hotel. A pub had been on this site for many years, although the present building was erected in 1887 when the pub was called the Foresters. It holds the record in the town for the pub with the most names, with at least nine changes. In 1913 the name was changed to the Cavendish, retaining this name until closure in 1955. Its owners, the Brampton Brewery, transferred the licence to the newly converted Old Farm Inn at Newbold. The building was bought by Hopkins and Proctors Solicitors in 1956, who occupied the building until earlier this year. The ground floor has now been converted into two shop units, Glumangate Wines and Time fashion wear.

Other than the above examples, over a dozen old pub buildings still remain in the town. Details of these together with all pubs that have disappeared, as well as the history of those still open, can be found in the booklet CHESTERFIELD PUBS, which now includes a Millennium update of recent changes. It is available from the Peacock Information Centre, Chesterfield Library and Chesterfield Museum at £2.95. 

John Hirst