Elvaston Castle is one of those perplexing problems for Derbyshire County Council as it’s Grade II listed, set in a terrific 200 acre country park but on its knees.
It’s not open to the public, is on the Buildings at Risk register and the local authority reckon a cool £6.1m is needed to repair it to a level whereby it can be reopened.
There is, apparently a masterplan for the future of this castle…my money is on a mega sized Lidl with a tarmac car park…you may laugh…
Anyway, the initial Elizabethan House was built in 1633 before James Wyatt redesigned it in a Gothic revival style in the 1820s and it was revamped again in 1836 as its Gothic look became even more apparent.
There have been no Sisters of Mercy gigs here though in the intervening period and the house that was built for the Earl of Harrington remains very much in limbo despite a potential Fields of the Nephilim fundraiser concert being in the pipeline.
The gardens are used extensively though and I reckon this place would benefit from a boozer, in fact, that could be the missing link.
A new Microbrewery could take over the castle, open it as a tap house and open it maybe once a month for three hours and ensure a place in the 2021 GBG…you may laugh…
However, whilst the locals of Elvaston wait for that elusive pub to appear they can draw solace at a pub in the village next door, Thulston.
398 – The Harrington Arms DE72 3EY is on the main drag through Elvaston and Thulston towards the A6 and there is a small housing estate behind the boozer, which probably accounts for local trade.
In fact, there are lots of chimney pots between here and the well pubbed area of Shardlow in one direction and the not so well pubbed areas of Chellaston in the other; therefore with this being the only pub for miles, it’s got a pretty captive audience.
I was in with my lad at around 5pm on a Friday and, having studied the beer board at great length came to the only logical conclusion…a pint of Bass please barman!
(picture for Mark…settling Bass)
I noted that two people before me and four people after me all ordered Bass so it’s fair to say the turnover was good and the quality of the pint was excellent.
Not quite up the Railway Tavern standard but certainly the sort of pint to make people think drinking cask ale is worthwhile.
It’s a fairly small boozer and was full in the main bar area and the smoker section outside with the slightly raised area only occupied by my lad and I along with another couple who looked like they’d been married for a while…
(Married life, 2019)
…but were both friendly along with all the other locals in this boozer and were enjoying their Friday beers.
A proper local that is clean and tidy and researching this piece meant I could finally work out why a pub in Thulston was called The Harrington Arms…
What a bloody week! Between catering, car stuff, the doctor, and 4 litres of tomato soup all over the back of the car (including the back seats!) I’ve barely had time to blink.
“and the local authority reckon a cool £6.1m is needed to repair it to a level whereby it can be reopened.”
Blimey!
“you may laugh”
In these times one never knows. 🙂
“you may laugh”
Martin has said the same often enough. 😉
“a pint of Bass please barman!”
Indeed!
“along with another couple who looked like they’d been married for a while…”
I’ll have you know the missus and me have been married over 33 years now and will still hold hands when out and about. 🙂
“meant I could finally work out why a pub in Thulston was called The Harrington Arms…”
That would be the sadly in need of refurbishment Elvaston Castle, which used to belong to the Earls of Harrington? 🙂
Cheers
PS – “as its Grade II listed”
I believe an apostrophe is in order.
“open it is a tap house”
‘As’ dear boy.
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Great having Russ back, isn’t it ?
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I’ve missed the downmarket nature of comments in his absence!
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Good spot on the grammar Russ as I sense standards have slipped somewhat in your absence…for me, the big question is not tomato soup incidents but the fact that Mrs Russ is still holding hands after 33 years…I need picture evidence of this huge claim!
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“I need picture evidence of this huge claim!”
I’ll see what I can do. 🙂
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How did you acquire that copy of “Married Life” then BeerMat ? Top shelf in the local newsagent stuff that.
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Russ sent me a copy in brown paper packaging!
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After more than 33 years I’ve got it memorised. 🙂
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Those three-thirds tasting things are a particular favourite of mine, but I find that you could really do with a pint afterwards.
Very slight tilt adjustment required on that last photo…
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Ha ha – yes absolutely. I can sesne I am going to have to up my game from a photgraphic perspective!
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Lovely line up of beers. Was the Bass on hand pump. I have it listed as from the jug.
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I had it on hand pump and I didn’t note if it was from the jug or not!!! It may well have been actually but was in good order.
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If yourself and other regular commentators on this blog are to be believed, all Elvaston Castle needs to do is to open up as a pub, put Bass and that other well known throwback beer brewed by Marston’s on and it will be instantly saved! Pedigree, is it Pedigree that Marston’s brew? I forget, they’ve soooo many different brands.
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Apparently Marston’s started acquiring other brands pre 1632 so The Earl of Harrington was drinking a pint of Ringwood Razorback in 1606.
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