Nicks` Cabinet of Curios

Heanor, home of the Gingerbread Duck,  is a small town in Amber Valley, Derbyshire, pretty much on the South Derbys/North Notts border.   Built in 1876, the Town Hall was during the early part of the twentieth century a cinema called Buxton`s Picture Palace. Bromley House. This former bank has been converted into flats and is owned by a charity called Aspire.  The date plaque at the top is dated 1895 with the lettering NJSB, which stood for Nottingham Joint Stock Bank. There are other interesting buildings in the area, but given my limited expertise with a camera, I`ve not been able to achieve a decent picture of them !  I`ll try again another time.  There is a local history group, Heanor and District Local History Society, and a Facebook page, Heanor Bygones. 

Situated at the junction of Cheapside and St Werburgh`s Churchyard (near Derby Museum and Art Gallery), this is one of Derby`s best-known ghost signs and a personal favourite of mine.  It would be interesting to know if any pictures survive showing T Gorman`s business as it was, or indeed that of previous proprietor R Howitt. 

Joan Kahn (ed) - Some Things Fierce and Fatal - Bodley Head Short stories by C S Forester, Edward H Smith, Ray Bradbury, H G Wells and others. This is the first collection compiled by Joan Kahn that I`ve read, and was part of a series ; Some Things Dark and Dangerous, Some Things Strange and Sinister etc. There are 14 stories by 14 writers. Three of the tales included are said by the editor to be factual, though my feeling is that one of these, A Tale of Terror by Paul Louis Courier, is really a short story, though it is presented as a reminiscence.  There is only one that I personally would not have included, which is David Hogan`s The Leaping Trout. It is clear to me that he can write, and tell a story in a way that holds your attention, but in this case his writing is mannered and at times pretentious ("the new moon rose above Mullaghcleevaun mountain like the diadem of a fairy queen walking upon its summit")  and in the end the story goes nowhere. Th...

This ghost sign appears on the side of a private house on the road between Langley Mill and Eastwood (North Nottinghamshire).  It`s size and position means it is very apparent to motorist driving along that road, but sadly it`s not so easy to get a decent picture of it. As you might be able to tell, it advertises a business called Nevilles` Garage, which it describes as being, IIRC, a mile further along the road.  I`ve only come across one other photo of it, which was posted on Flickr by someone called Claire, who had the good sense to take her shot from the other side of the road at a time when there was little traffic about.  It is captioned `Neville`s Garage, Eastwood` . It would be interesting to know whether the eponymous Neville lived there at some point and saw a chance to plug his business, or whether he perhaps paid someone to have his sign on the outside of their home.  If anyone knows, get in touch. 

I`m having a look through some old pictures to see if there any others might like to see.  This is a scout hut near Hyson Green, Nottingham, just by the Goose Fair site. I took this just because I liked the art work with no particular thought of sharing it with anyone else.  Next time I`m in the area I`ll try to find time to get some more pics as there is artwork all round it. Should you be interested, I gather the hut is called Trafalgar Lodge as the scout group in question were originally based at Trafalgar Street, Radford, Nottm  .

Looking at this blog you could be forgiven for thinking I only listen to vintage reggae, but that`s not the case. Here`s something else I like  .

As you may know, `ghost signs` are the remains of old hand-painted signs on buildings drawing the attention of passers-by to a business that either occupied that building or could be found nearby. Naturally, the businesses usually no longer exist but the sign has outlived them, at least for now. Walk from Nottingham city centre through Hockley towards Sneinton and you will find this advertisement for `Benleys`, purveyors of furniture, carpets and women`s and children`s clothing. Judging by the size of the building I would say it was a substantial enterprise, possibly quite up-market in it`s day. As yet we`ve not been able to find out anything about it. Perhaps others can help ?

Let`s return to our look at collectable reggae vinyl. Jackie Robinson - Sweet Sensation - Greenway - GW 1003 - 1978 Sweet Sensation was originally recorded by The Melodians for Leslie Kong`s Beverleys label.  For many  people, that original version remains a classic that can`t really be improved on, but this version by former Pioneer Jackie Robinson is particularly impressive in it`s own right. Greenway Records was an apparently short-lived reggae label from 1978 and seems to have released only a handful of discs. I`m no expert, but their releases seem to have been pretty much in the same vein as this, tracks by Winston Curtis, Jackie Robinson, Winston Groovy, The Pioneers. Well-crafted and tuneful reggae with a leaning towards cover versions.  One surprise is that no real attempt seems to have been made to credit the songwriter - it is simply noted as "Com. copyright", which means precisely nothing. While it`s true that some confusion may have exist...

I do like a good castle ! Took these and others on a recent family visit. the others will be appearing on Facebook some time soon.  I also like a bit of history so I shall tell you that there has been a castle on this position since Norman times, but as I understand it the surviving buildings date from the thirteenth century. The Castle has seen it`s share of rebellion, Civil War, treason and treachery. A colourful history that`s well worth reading about ! There is a Friends of Dudley Castle that can help you with that. 

Spotted at the side of a cafe on the road between Heanor and Smalley (Derbyshire) earlier today.