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Some of the most popular articles in the You and Yesterday archive concern Derbyshire's public houses. Here local historian Peter Seddon adds another to our 'Lost Derby Pubs' series - The Corporation Hotel.

The old Cattle Market in Derby in its heyday, with The Corporation Hotel prominent on the right

The Corporation Hotel sounds a rather grand name for a simple pub. And for a very good reason - The Corporation Hotel wasn't a simple pub.

In fact it was a very substantial edifice, a free house owned by Derby Corporation, hence the establishment's name. It also had rooms to let, and in its heyday was something of a Derby landmark.

Built in 1861-62 as part of the new Cattle Market complex, close to where Derby bus station was later built, it was designed by H. I. Stevens and George Thompson.

Records suggest that customers were obliged to wait until 1868 - fully seven years after its construction began - before downing the first alcoholic beverage there. Either the premises took an eternity to open as a pub, or the service was remarkably slow - even for Derby.

The building was much more handsome than most town-centre 'pubs' - a tall Italianate design of three bays with angle pilasters in brick with stone dressings. There were paired sash windows either side of the central bay, which itself broke slightly forward to give the facade of the building some extra interest. A particular feature was the large stone clock face relieving the upper storey, with a movement by the celebrated clockmakers 'Smith's of Derby'.

On Derby's weekly market days it must have been teeming with activity, as farmers and sundry traders converged on the area to strike a deal.

In fact the business was inextricably linked to the market. It operated under a market licence, and tenders to run it were invited by Derby Corporation in April 1868.

In early November 1868 the civic opening dinner was held there, a grand affair which heralded successful times to come. For the next one hundred years the Corporation Hotel fed and watered countless thousands of customers.

Then came the death knell. In 1968 it was announced by Derby's council representatives that the cattle market was to be replaced by a new one to be built on The Meadows, in order to make way for the now infamous Inner Ring Road.

With that, the old inn's days were numbered. The Corporation Hotel closed on 30 May 1970, and was demolished in the following month.

Little has been written about it before or since, perhaps because it was more of a 'business pub' than a cosy local. At one time, probably in the sixties, it had hosted a popular Jazz Club, but further information is scant.

So there is another in the 'Lost Derby Pubs' series - if you have any memories of The Corporation Hotel, click on the 'edit' function and share them here.

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County:  Derbyshire

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