A Brief History of The Oakwood, Glossop

The Oakwood public house sits proudly on the corner of High Street West and George Street in Glossop. There has been a building on this site since 1844. The original inn was owned by George Pye and remained in his family till 1875, when it was sold to John Gardener Sykes who had it demolished.  The original Public House was named The Surrey Arms, in connection to the Lord Howard’s family relations. However, it was know locally as “The Big Surrey” to distinguish between the other Surrey pub on Victoria Street. Mr Sykes made plans to build a guest house or hotel on the site.

The building work began on the plans to build a “Grand Style” hotel in 1878. In local papers in November in the same year is said that “A large and handsome hotel to the cost of £6000 is to be erected on the site of the present Surrey Arms with work in progress”. The building had many rooms for guests as well as a hall and billiard rooms upstairs. It possessed a spire with a flag pole that was eventually removed in the 1940s but can be seen on the 1910 tram footage of Glossop featured on the Times Past DVD from the Glossop Heritage Trust.

Eventually in 1901 it was bought by Robinsons Brewery and it remains with the same brewery to this day.  It had a major renovation in 1991 where it uncovered the original oak panelling on the first floor. Robinsons renamed the pub The Oakwood in relation to their findings. In more recent times it has undergone more renovations, however it still possess the fantastic glass windows that advertise the billiard rooms and Burton Mild and Bitter Ales. It also has a castle carved into its stonework but can you find it?

The Oakwood still uses the hall upstairs for music, concerts and theatre performances. So next time you are in town, take a look for yourself at Glossopdale’s fantastic history.

A huge overhaul has just taken place bringing the public house right up to date but with plenty of historic charm. A big highlight of the High Street today.

www.glossoptours.moonfruit.com

Matthew Cox

Glossop Street Parties

As the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee draws near people are preparing to celebrate. This year there is a whole variety of events to mark the occasion including the lighting of huge beacons right around the country. However, here in Glossop we have kept with the tradition of street parties. Surely no one can resist a party? A chance to have drink, relax and spend some time with friends and family.
The tradition of street parties as we now know as residential events that take place in their own streets seem to have taken off on a large scale in 1919. They were held in July as 'Peace Teas' as a genuine celebration of the signing of the Versailles peace treaty after the First World War. They were tea parties that were focused on a special treat for children in those times of hardship and were quite formal sit down affairs.

These residents led street parties were a popular mass participation and were probably a development of more formal public street dinners that had historically been held, such as for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Then after the Second World War the entire county went street party mad. The craze continued with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth the Second. Street parties have been seen on many occasions since such as the Golden Jubilee and the Royal Wedding last year.

At the end of this month there will be small exhibition in the Glossop Railway Station depicting 60 years of Glossop past and present. There will also be a celebration walk on the 26th May and on the 9th June.

I am looking for photographs of Glossop street parties over the years. It would be great if we could find one from 1953 Coronation.

If you would like to share your photographs memories then please get in touch.

Help Please

This week I have been flooded with lots of questions from regular readers, who have been asking for my help. I have managed to solve and answer most of them but I have hit a brick wall with some of the others. I would like to ask you if you have heard or know the history of some these places.

First, there is a building on the corner of Arundel Street and Edward Street opposite the Friendship pub in Glossop. So far I have discovered it was used by the Salvation Army up until the 1950s when it was then used as a Scout Hut. It is still called the scout hut today although it is now used as a private workshop but what was it before the Salvation Army used it? The building on the corner clearly looks like it was a shop. Do you know?

Electric Palace 1950s

I have another question for you. The Electric Palace stood on George Street, where the Medical Centre is today. It was the 1st purpose built cinema in Glossop but it only ever showed silent films. It opened its doors in 1921 until 1931. The building remained standing until 1958 but what was there before it became a cinema? I have been told it may have been Braddock’s Roller Skating Rink around 1909, but was it? If it was a skating rink, it would have been a real novelty at that time. Do you know?

If you know anything about the Old Scout Hut or the Braddock’s Roller Skating Rink or have a history question yourself? Contact me on:

Email: glossoptours@live.co.uk

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www.glossoptours.co.uk