The photograph of Matlock Bath's Grand Pavilion (also referred to as the New Pavilion and now the Mining Museum) was taken from Temple Walk. The sun shining on the front of the building, which had been painted white, almost makes it sparkle. The back and sides of the Pavilion had not been painted, though.

The coaches parked in the Pavilion's car park had brought the day trippers to Matlock Bath and had been a familiar site in the village for many years. It is amazing to see just two vehicles on the main road (A6); these days the road is extremely busy.

The rooftops closest to the camera would have been Lusby's sweets and tobacco shop, run by Nellie Lusby and her daughter Edna (the taller building with the two dormer windows), the newsagency of George Barker and the grocery shop of Alice Finney (her husband was a house painter).

The second picture was dated Summer 1938. It was the last full season before the Second World War and it had been successful for both Matlock and Matlock Bath. A Council meeting in October learned from the statement of pleasure grounds receipts that there had been "increases in almost every direction". The revenue from the Grand Pavilion and its parking ground was £297 0s 3d compared with takings of £263 4s 3d. in the previous year^[1]. War was declared on 3 September 1939 and a couple of weeks later Matlock Cinemas, Ltd., announced that they would not show pictures at the Grand Pavilion for the time being because of the War. The County A.R.P. Controller informed the Council that an air-raid warning siren was to be installed at Matlock Bath^[10].

By the late 1930s the Pavilion had become Pleasure Land.

From the many signs on either side of the door we learn that admission to the Pavilion was free. The Council made its money from a Rifle Range, bumper tables, darts, football, skini? balls, gun shooting and rotating machines. Not all the attractions mentioned on the advertising boards are easy to read on this card, but the public could also buy ices. A large weighing nachine was just inside the entrance, on the left hand side. But where was the entrance doorway? Perhaps it was folded away.

Just two and a half months later, on Sunday 3 September 1939, the United Kingdom declared war on Germany. France declared war later the same day. Matlock's Carnival was cancelled, despite all the preparation, and A.R.P. posts were manned. Wardens' posts had been established and demand for gas masks, issued from an A.R.P office in the Pavilion, were being met as quickly as possible^[3]. At the end of September a letter was read out to Matlock Council announcing that Matlock Cinemas would not be showing any more films at the Pavilion for the time being^[4].

When the Army returned to Matlock Bath, the whole of the Pavilion's ground floor became a kitchen for their training camp^[5].

Grand Pavilion (Kursaal) 1910-12	Grand Pavilion (The Kursaal) 1915	Pavilion, Obelisk & Spar Shop	Grand Pavilion, 1911-20	Grand Pavilion 1920s
The Ballroom, before 1928	Grand Pavilion, 1930s	Pavilion Grounds 1923	Industrial Exhibition 1946	Musical Festival 1961	Post War to Present