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Arboretum Square Entrance Lodge |
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Go to Move your mouse pointer over this photo to see the same location as it was in 1896. Note how the trees now overshadow the scene. Left: Work on the Arboretum Square Entrance Lodge is now complete Car parking, unfortunately, continues to spoil this otherwise picturesque Victorian square. Pollution from car exhausts is also causing damage to the stone-work at the front of this lodge. Local residents are campaigning to prevent cars parking here and ruining the appearance of the square |
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new entrance lodge was erected by the town council in 1850, for the newly formed Arboretum Street (Architect Henry
Duesbury). This became recognised as the main entrance as Grove Street
became a secondary entrance. This brought the number of entrances to
four, two more than Strutt had originally intended.
The statue of Joseph Strutt depicts him handing over the Deed of Settlement for the Arboretum to the Town Council in 1840. The building was criticized at the time because it differs in style from the other buildings in the area, Pevsner later, unkindly, referred to it as being of a "Flabby Italianate Design". Read the comments of "A Derbian" from the Derbyshire Advertiser, June 12th 1890 Alternative dates, of 1853 and 1852, relating to the entrance's construction, have been quoted elsewhere. However as this lodge appears on the 1852 map, and taking into account the time lag between the survey and the map's publication, I believe it is safe to assume the 1850 date is correct. This lodge and Arcade are currently occupied by Q Arts Gallery. Arboretum Square was built by Charles Humphries between 1867 - 68. |
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The Arcade |
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Move your mouse pointer over this photo to see the same location as it was in about 1900. Note the boys on their way to Reginald Street (St. James) School. |
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Above taken Feb 2005 Below taken December 10th 2004 |
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The Arcade Inside the 1850 main entrance to the Arboretum. |
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The Arcade is located to the rear of this lodge, with a clock mounted on the opposite side of the statue. The proposal is to reinstate the Arcade as an entrance "arcade" and Arcade complete with orange trees. View this area as it was in 1886 |
More photos of the Arcade are to be found on the Derby Arboretum Last updated 24 August 2025 |
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by "A Derbeian" from the Derbyshire Advertiser, June 12th 1890
"A very weak point in the Arboretum Landscape is apt to be undeservedly laid at Loudon's door by persons who are are unaware of the fact that the Arboretum Street entrance is a recent addition. The visitor's initial glance is met by a bold convex curvature in the mounds, which completely shuts in the view and creates a first impression which is unfavourable to the picturesqueness of the grounds as to the genius of the landscape gardener. It is needles to say that the apparent blunder is one of Loudon's, who, had he had an entrance at this spot, would assuredly have made a concavity. A very slight expense would make needful correction; a basin throwing up a jet of water might be added and the rest might be left in the competent hands of the curator". (courtesy of Derby Local Studies Library)
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Copyright Christopher Harris 2002-2006 |
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| The Arcade Circa 1886, this
photo was taken about five years after the new trees were planted to
replace those killed by pollution over the 20 or so previous years.
The tall poplar, a survivor of the original tree collection, visible in
the background, still stands next to Grove Street Lodge and is also
evident in the early 20th century photo of the old Aviary.
Photo reproduced by courtesy of Derby Parks Dept. |
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