ChrisB 150 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 The upmarket furniture store on Huntingdon Street I mean. Can anyone remember who occupied the building before them, say in the 1970's? There used to be a strange sort of tower on the corner, quite a slender affair, I don't think it served any purpose. it appeared to be just a feature but was certainly highly visible. Was the previous building torn down or was Hopewells an adaptation of it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
... 1,411 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 I worked at hopewels in the 70s i cant remember anything changing ,i think it was the 70s ithought hopewells had been there a long time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamber 128 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 I thought the "old" part of the Hopwell's building has been their warehouse for a long time. I would guess it is an old lace factory. They moved their shop from Milton Street, to the modern extension at the front, in the early 70s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hippo girl 1,995 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Not sure what was there before, but Hopewells used to be on Parliament street, think they moved early 70s It wasn't part of sytners ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,877 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 There was a car dealers around there in the sixties Trumans? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,488 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 It wasn't part of sytners ? Sytners were next door Chrissie. There used to be a strange sort of tower on the corner, quite a slender affair, I don't think it served any purpose. it appeared to be just a feature but was certainly highly visible. Technically not a great photo. but this seems to show it, although I don't actually remember it. An over-designed lift shaft? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 In 1968, behind where the hordings are were old single story school buildings. This was part of Peoples College, and I studied electrical installation 1st year there. Where the sytners arrow points I remember there being a Car showroom full of New Jaguars? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trickymicky 57 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 In the '60's, just to the left of the Jaguar showroom there was a BMC car dealership. Atkeys may have owned it. They called it the "Mini Clinic", specialising in Mini's, which were becoming very popular by then, and had the workshops on the 2nd floor. Cars were driven up a concrete ramp within the building, taking two sharp turns before arriving in the workshop area. I think it may have been demolished to allow the Jaguar dealers to extend, its hard to tell from the pic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,488 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 I agree my caption to the photo is wrong (and other people are correct about it being a Jag place) because it wasn't Sytners back in those days. They didn't take over the site until the late 80s/early 90s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DavidA 153 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 The old bit of Hopewells has the name of it's former company on the front, still visible. I forget the name though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlebro 234 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 The old building was definitely Trumans, Rolls Royce showroom & workshop. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poohbear 1,360 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Can't remember who had the place now...but I drove round the back to have a new bonnet on a Mk 10 Jag in the early 70s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,488 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Back in the 30s seems the rear part was a lace factory, with houses where the "shop front" now is. Two things I've learned about that area; there was a St Mark's church where Sytners/Rolls place would be; and behind that a "Ropewalk Disused". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlebro 234 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Truman's was a Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Rover dealer that merged with F Mitchell at Triumph Corner and became Truman-Mitchell around 1977-ish. The Rolls workshop was at the top of the ramp between to the right of the building now occupied by Hopewells.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamber 128 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 An over-designed lift shaft? I've got a vague recollection that it was an over-sized lift for moving cars up and down. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mess 624 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 My dad (1915-2004) got his first job with Hopewells when he left school in 1930. If I remember correctly he worked at their premises on David Lane Basford which I believe made wooden coffins. I don't know if they went into furniture later or the coffin manufacturing bit was another branch of the main business. I can't find much when I've searched on t'internet. Anybody out there know any more about the David Lane set up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,519 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 If you go into the Hopewells store and go upstairs to the cafe there are big photos of their stores, past and present, with dates I seem to remember. Adam Hopewell is the present Managing Director and is usually to be found in the store. He seems to be very approachable and I'm sure would answer any questions because I think he would be pleased that someone has shown an interest. You probably won't end up buying anything though, it's not exactly IKEA! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
... 1,411 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Hopewells had a branch in Derby up until recently they have built a westfields centre in place of eagle centre hopewellswas nearby think now demolished . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Pianoman 1,535 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 It was CH Truman before they became Truman-Mitchell and moved to Trumph Corner. My 1961 Rover 100 was supplied new by them but when they were in there earlier still place on Mansfield Road. They were agents for predominantly Rover but also other exotica Rolls Royce, Bentley, Alvis, Aston Martin, Lagonda etc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,690 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 A couple of adverts for Hopewells . The first from 1902 and the second from 1936 advertising premises on St Ann Well Rd and later 386 Radford Rd . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
banjo48 928 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Just before Hopewells moved to the premises, my dad worked there as a bricklayer doing the conversions, and I remember him saying something about working on the lift shaft as well as other alterations. I remember as he used to come home frozen and said he had been in the lift shaft with a gale blowing up it. Thomas Long was the main contractor who my dad worked for. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Limey 242 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 I have a clock that was a wedding present to my parents. I believe it may have come from Hopewells! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bilbraborn 1,594 Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Hopewell's Furniture, Buxtons the Butcher and Eric of Eric's shoes (corner of Alfreton Rd and Hartley Rd.) were all related. I used to know Eric's widow before she died. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 386 Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 This advert reminded me of one Hopewell who produced wonderful music at St.Ann`s church across the road from the shop on St. Ann`s Well Rd. ...and which thug knocked over that lovely building?...probably the same crowd that destroyed the one in Trinity Square,and the wonderful Mundella School.! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Commo 1,292 Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 In 1968 we had a teak dining suite from Hopewells as a Wedding present from Mrs C's parents. Teak furniture was very fashionable then, and we had this until the early 80's when it was old fashioned and round tables with sideboards were out of favour, but surprise surprise, it's back in fashion again and we are thinking of buying a new sideboard! Sold it for coppers but will have to pay a bit more than that now. Makes ya spit !! Regarding St Marks church, it was a brown stone Victorian neo-gothic building, and also had it's own school within the grounds which I attended for Sunday school between 1950 - 1953, but can't recall whether it was then still in use as a school Monday - Friday. St Marks was a daughter church to Holy Trinity, and although mum and Dad lived locally to St Marks, their wedding was at Holy Trinity in September 1939. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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