The History
Of The Hall
Pomeroy War Memorial Hall is located on the A515 (SK17 9QG), 5.5 miles from Buxton, Derbyshire. The following information is an overview of the Hall’s history, which was provided by the local history leaflet created by the trustees.
Lest We Forget
Pomeroy War Memorial Hall was built in remembrance of the local men who served and died in the First World War (1914-18). HRP Lomas gave a generous cheque to start the Memorial Hall Fund in 1920. Donations were received from residents and local businesses – the Duke of York at Pomeroy and the Bull i’th’ Thorn Inn down the road held collections and fundraisers. The idea of a memorial combined with a village hall came from Thomas Clifford Bailey. This project was close to his heart. Mr Bailey was farm manager at Street House Farm and one of his farmhands, John Briddon, was killed in the war. The memorial honours the memory of:
· John Briddon served with the 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards. He was killed in action on 16th November 1915 aged 32.
· William Bennett, a delver at Sterndale Moor quarry was killed on 3rd May 1915.
· Frederick William Shimwell of Dowlow Lime, Sterndale Moor died 9th May 1915.
· Levi Wilcox, a tar pourer at the Lime Works, had been a boarder at 8 Pomeroy Cottages. Died 9th May 1915.
The Hall was opened on the 7th of September 1921 and was used in a number of ways by the local community until the latter half of the 1980s. It is understood that events were taking place right up until December 1986. After this point the committee numbers declined, and whilst the hall was still available to hire, usage dropped. Derbyshire Rural Community Council (now known as Rural Action Derbyshire, who oversee village hall use) became involved in the Hall between 1989 and 1991; working with its committee to explore its potential uses. Although a number of groups expressed an interest in using the Hall, nothing materialised.
Since 1993, Buxton Drama League used the War Memorial for storage, and it has slowly fallen into disrepair. Now a new group of trustees have come together to secure the future of the hall. They have commissioned a design team to explore options for the site and this work hopes to support that process to find a future use.
Pomeroy is located within the electoral ward of Hartington and Taddington, forming part of the Dovedale division of the Derbyshire Dales. The area is in close proximity to Buxton. Pomeroy was developed as a result of a local hotel owner.
The area got its name as a result of Herbert Reginald Pomeroy Lomas, known as Pomeroy Lomas, owner of the Buxton Hydro Hotel. Pomeroy Lomas also owned Street House Farm which supplied fresh produce to the hotel. The area became known as Pomeroy after HRP built cottages for his farm workers, opposite the Duke of York pub. The stone inscription reads “Pomeroy Cottages 1903.”
Pictures Through Time
Wedding Reception
The reception was held at Pomeroy Memorial Hall on June 6th 1936. It was between Eric Ellison of Fairfield and Susie Portas of 7 Pomeroy Cottages.
'Peeps From The Past' - Pomeroy Sunday School
Memories of a trip to the seaside more than 60 years ago. This party was from Pomeroy Sunday School in the late 1930s and travelled by a Hodgkinson's of Buxton coach seen behind them. The photograph is courtesy of Mrs Enid Wager and names - where they can be recalled - are.
Back row (left to right}: not known, Charlie Portas, Joan Grimshaw, Sarah Melland, not known, Mavis Melland, James Melland, Margaret Bramwell, Mrs Hobson, Mrs Becca Melland, Audrey Pickford, not known, Enid Waring, Freddie Wood, Mrs Bramwell and Noreen, Mrs Wood.
Second row: Arthur Wood, Tim Heathcote, Jim Melland, John Melland, Tim Melland, Tom Waring, Jim Pickford, Bill Pickford, Esme Simpson, Mary Waring.
Front row: Arthur Waring, Charlie Waring, Mrs Wain, Joyce Pickford, Mavis Waring, Olive Pickford, Rose Pickford, Bessie Simpson, Miss Sutclitte, Hilda Waring, Harriet Simpson, Dorothy Melland, not known, not known, Dorothy Melland, Mary Simpson.
This 'Peeps From The Past' article was published by the Buxton Advertiser on Wednesday 20th March 2002. We have since managed to identify most of the unknown from the photograph, but would be grateful for any help filling in the blanks. We will publish an update with all the names soon.
The Builders
Moses Harrison of Street Farm dressed this stone and Fred Robinson (wheelwright from Chelmorton) did all the joinery. An invoice dated April 1920 shows timber to build the hall cost £2000 and stone dressing, damp course and cement an extra £400.
Picture Right:
This is an "artists impressions" of the hall when it was new - taken from the very bad photo on the front of the Buxton Advertiser. The drawings were done by local artist Butty ART.
Pictured Left:
Date:1900 - 1901 (c.) Description:Joiners and wheelwright's premises at Crowdecote, Earl Sterndale, Derbyshire (near Longnor, Staffordshire). Second from left is Luke Gregory, joiner and wheelwright. Pictured with him are two of his sons and on the far right is probably his apprentice, listed as Fred Robinson in the 1901 census return.
The Land Givers
The old photo of this family was taken at Great Low, between Pomeroy and Sterndale Moor. The man in the picture is Charles Melland who donated the land on which to build the hall and the 9th Duke of Devonshire donated the adjoining field for a recreation ground (originally intended to be a bowling green).
Wedding Reception
The reception was held at Pomeroy Memorial Hall on June 6th 1936.
Pomeroy Sunday School
Memories of a trip to the seaside more than 60 years ago. This party was from Pomeroy Sunday School in the late 1930s and travelled by a Hodgkinson's of Buxton coach seen behind them. The photograph is courtesy of Mrs Enid Wager and names - where they can be recalled - are.
Back row (left to right}: not known, Charlie Portas, Joan Grimshaw, Sarah Melland, not known, Mavis Melland, not known, Margaret Bramwell, Mrs Hobson, Mrs Becca Melland, Audrey Pickford, not known, Enid Waring, Freddie Wood, Mrs Bramwell and Noreen, Mrs Wood.
Second row: Arthur Wood, Tim Heathcote, Jim Melland, John Melland, Tim Melland, Tom Waring, Jim Pickford, Bill Pickford, Esme Simpson, Mary Waring.
Front row: Arthur Waring, Charlie Waring, Mrs Wain, Joyce Pickford, Mavis Waring, Olive Pickford, Rose Pickford, Bessie Simpson, Miss Sutclitte, Hilda Waring, Harriet Simpson, Dorothy Melland, not known, not known, Dorothy Melland, Mary Simpson.
The Land Givers
The old photo of this family was taken at Great Low, between Pomeroy and Sterndale Moor. The man in the picture is Charles Melland who donated the land on which to build the hall and the 9th Duke of Devonshire donated the adjoining field for a recreation ground (originally intended to be a bowling green).
The Builders
Moses Harrison of Street Farm dressed this stone and Fred Robinson (wheelwright from Chelmorton) did all the joinery. An invoice dated April 1920 shows timber to build the hall cost £2000 and stone dressing, damp course and cement an extra £400.
Picture Right:
This is an "artists impressions" of the hall when it was new - taken from the very bad photo on the front of the Buxton Advertiser. The drawings were done by local artist Butty ART.
Pictured Left:
Date:1900 - 1901 (c.) Description:Joiners and wheelwright's premises at Crowdecote, Earl Sterndale, Derbyshire (near Longnor, Staffordshire). Second from left is Luke Gregory, joiner and wheelwright. Pictured with him are two of his sons and on the far right is probably his apprentice, listed as Fred Robinson in the 1901 census return.
Photographs
We would love it if we were able to unearth some more photographs of times enjoyed at the hall. Please do get in touch if you would like to share some memories of the hall with us.