Grove Street Entrance

Grove Street Lodge and Grand Entrance	Go to Arboretum Square Entrance

	The "Grand Entrance" and Lodge at the northern end of the Arboretum, as viewed from inside the Arboretum. Move your mouse pointer over the photo to compare this view with the pre restoration view of 2002 (does not work with all browsers) See photo below left Photos Christopher Harris
Above: January 2005 and right, as it would have looked in 1840, the bays were added at a later date, see building extensions. Photo Christopher Harris 2005 According to Bagshawes Directory of 1846, the Gardener, John Moss lived here.
	The "Grand Entrance" and Lodge at the northern end of the Arboretum, as viewed from inside the Arboretum. Before Restoration (August 12^th 2002)

Main Gates Reconstruction - Completed A Perfect Reconstruction of the Gateway Note the great care taken by the skilled craftsmen to create this faithful replica of the original entrance These images have been updated as the work has been completed Photo Christopher Harris, February 9^th 2005
Below: The same site as it was on March 6^th 2003

Christopher Harris - March 6^th 2003
This lodge, completed by September 1840, is now a grade II listed building has now been completely restored. This was once the Main entrance lodge, up until 1850, and later, the home of the Arboretum's Curator. The (original) entrance gates were completed in 1843 and formed the northern termination point for the north - south Broad Walk - this is now restored to its original state. See the 1852 map for a more detailed description of the area. Watch the screen as your mouse transports you back in time to 1896 Turn back the clock
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Restoration Work on Grove Street Lodge Nearing Completion	Photo Christopher Harris November 14^th 2004
See Map	This lodge is in the "Elizabethan" Style.
The lodges, now grade II listed buildings, were designed by Edward Buckton Lamb (1805 - 1869) who had a long association with J. C. Loudon, both acting as his draughtsman, translating some of his building designs, and providing his own designs. The lodges were built by Mr. Thompson (Joseph Strutt's address to the Council September 1840) This was either George Thompson Who built several of Derby's nonconformist chapels, and Christ Church, or more likely Edwin Thompson, who built a number of large houses along London Road at around the same period. (Stephen Glover, 1843)
Loudon, his wife Jane and benefactor Joseph Strutt took refuge in a lodge in the Arboretum during a visit in 1841 and this could well have been the building they entered.	E . B. Lamb Architect + London Memorial stone on Grove Street Lodge (Edward Buckton Lamb, born 1805 - died1869).


Drawings reproduced from "A Catalogue of Trees and Shrubs" J. C. Loudon 1840. Courtesy of Derby Local Studies Library Photographs: Chris Harris 2002 Top of page	View of the lodge (original 'Grand' Main Entrance) from Lamb's drawing of Grove Street, 1840 (the Grand Main Entrance was not completed until 1843) and as itws prior to refurbishment (left), the door on the northern side was not included in the finished building work. The new gates are now under construction
	The Grove Street Lodge will be restored, to English Heritage specifications, along with the entrance gates, with money from the Lottery Heritage Grant and will be used as an Education, Information and Resource Centre, thus helping to fulfill one of Joseph Strutt's requirements for the use of the Arboretum.

Photo of Grove Street Gates (showing proposed decorations for celebrating Edward VII's Coronation in 1902) Courtesy of Picture The Past

Detail of E. B. Lamb's design for Grove Street entrance gates, Loudon's "Grand Main Entrance" not completed until 1843. Drawing (digitally enhanced) reproduced from "A Catalogue of Trees and Shrubs" J. C. Loudon 1840.

The New Gates installed January 6^th 2005 These are an excellent reconstruction of the original gates. A comment by someone who had not been to the Arboretum since 1962, visited recently, thought that these were the original gates which had been cleaned up! See the comparison with JC Loudon's original drawing above. Awaiting a coat of black gloss paint. The gates have now been painted
	Above: detail of the railings showing the extent of the reproduction work The ORIGINAL gates were cast from E. B. Lambs designs by Messrs. Marshall, Barber, and Co. of Derby, Reconstruction of Gates and Railings by Alpha Rail Limited
Top of page	Last updated 05 July 2025

Extensions and alterations to this building Maps show that the Lodge acquired an east extension somewhere between 1852 and 1881. This was probably part of a overall alteration to the building. The new addition consisted of a new kitchen area in the south-east corner and an adjoining row of outbuildings, probably intended as public conveniences. Probably at the same time the third bay was raised and various openings altered, or added to, the existing building. At the front, new bay windows replaced three of the four large mullioned windows. This can be inferred from the broken edges to the adjoining brickwork alongside the ground floor bays, a result of the widening of the openings. Also, at the top of the taller second bay new brickwork hides where the earlier drip mould had been. The bays are stone built, and capped with shaped slates laid in alternating grey and grey-green bands. On the inside, there is little indication of altered brickwork and the upper second bay features a large supporting arch. Outside, prominent on the taller bay.
	The initials TB may provide a clue as to the builder involved in this alteration. This may refer to Thomas Bennett, a supplier of bricks, tiles and other building materials on the Uttoxeter Road. Left: The initials TB carved on a stone over the central bay window. Photo Christopher Harris June 2003
To the rear, two new doorways were inserted, together with a small window for lighting the realigned staircase. What is clearly a window of original design by the stack in the third bay may have been moved from a position in the east elevation now obscured by the new kitchen block. These alterations seem to have involved a certain re-location of earlier features, such as the drip moulds, and the re-design of the roof, possibly with the re-setting of the original tiles. Elsewhere, new style windows had chamfered stone lintels and angled brickwork jambs. Casement windows were inserted. Poplar has been removed! It is most unfortunate that the Lombardy Poplar to the right of Grove Street Lodge had to be felled to accommodate the building work. This tree has formed part of the scene in many old photos, is a major historical landmark and is the last of a line of Poplars from Poplar Grove which is how Grove Street got its name. We are however informed that the historical importance of the tree is good reason to have a replacement. Top of page
The "Public" Room (below) at Grove Street is demolished. This building has now been replaced with a brick walled compound

The old building with Lombardy Poplar (Feb 12^th 2003)	The same location (Feb 12^th 2005)

This little building was erected around 1860 with the addition of bay windows and outside toilet facilities at the main lodge house. It was intended for use as a picnic room by the Arboretum's visitors. Percy Thrower, the Derby Parks Dept Head Gardener and his staff were billeted here during the Second World War, as Fire Watchers and witnessed several air raids. They were paid seven shillings and sixpence overtime. (My thanks to Bill King, gardener 1939 - 1989) The Lombardy poplar (far right), the only remaining tree from which Grove Street gets its name has now been removed to make way for building work. We have been assured that a new poplar will be planted in the near future. (BACK to Latest News and Web Developments)