This building on Dale Road may not seem important today, but is quite significant in Matlock's history and its opening was a grand occasion. Built as a market hall and opened in 1868, it included a large assembly room above the market hall that was used by the petty sessions, for meetings and for various entertainments.

The opening ceremony, followed by a public dinner for about 100 people, took place on Monday 18th May 1868, when "the weather was everything that could be desired for the occasion". It was advertised that Lord Geo. Cavendish, the local M.P., would grace the occasion but he was unable to absent himself from the House so the Mayor of Derby, Alderman T. Rowe, stepped in. The band of the 11th Derbyshire (Matlock) Rifle Volunteers greeted Alderman Roe at the station and there was then a procession. The building was inspected before the Mayor of Derby declared the building open. Dinner in the Assembly Room followed at 3p.m. with a "sumptuous repast" catered for by Mr. Langley of the Queen's Head. Then followed various speeches, with toasts and a great deal of congratulating. Alderman Roe expressed the hope that the Market Hall would prove as successful as the one in Derby, despite some residents having been extremely reluctant to take shares in the company. John Smedley's name must have been in everyone's mind as the audience laughed and cheered at comments made over his refusal to take shares in and support the project "because of the Queen's Head adjoining; but he could have come there without drinking beer" (Matlock Visitor^[1]). Smedley was, of course, teetotal.

On the following evening there was an inaugural concert, again with the band playing. The music was clearly extremely loud inside the hall as the crowd outside were able to hear easily and it was the preferred option! Performers were: Madlle. Bertha Brouzil, a violinist who was accompanied by her sister; Mr. Hendley, a tenor whose performance was unfortunately disturbed; Miss Woodward and Mrs. Thompson were also vocalists; Mr. Woodward gave a clarionet solo; Mr. Scott played both the harmonium and the piano. Celebrations continued into the next day, with a tea meeting and concert to raise funds for the choir at Matlock House (Matlock Visitor^{[1, 2]}).

"The building, in the style known continental gothic, consists of a market hall, an assembly room, banking rooms, and a suite of offices. The hall has twelve shops arranged along two sides, with glass fronts, external and internal shopboards, and two rows of benches or open stalls down the centre. The assembly Room is approached by a wide stone staircases from the entrance vestibule of the market-hall, and a similar staircase from the lobby of the offices. It is capable of seating 500 persons. The whole of the walls are of gritstone, with dressed face to the street front and rock face to the side walls, and dressed stone to the windows and doors. The carved work of the front is of Darley white stone. The works are from the designs of and have been carried out under the direction of W. Hull, Esq., architect, of Northampton. The building has been let to separate firms. The carving is by Mr. W. White, jun., of Northampton. The assembly-room is a well-sized structure, and its acoustic properties are very favourable (Matlock Visitor^{[1, 2]})".

Shops were let by a Public Auction held in the Assembly Room on 15th May (Matlock Visitor^[2]).

Matlock Bridge Hotel & Market Hall Company (Limited) (Matlock Visitor[1]) Chairman:   Mr. F. W. Stevens, Matlock Board of Directors:   Mr. R. Skirrow, Matlock Mr. Thos. Walters, Matlock Mr. C. Stevens, Matlock Bank Mr. R. Farnsworth, Matlock Bank Mr. George Knowles, Matlock Bridge Mr. Joseph Winson, Bakewell T. Roe, Esq., Derby Robert Sybray, Esq., Alderwasley Mr. G. Staley, Tansley Mr. W. Boden, Rowsley Mr. M. Marriott, Matlock Bridge Mr. John Blackwell, Matlock A. W. Critchley, Esq., 71, Mosely-street, Manchester Secretary:   Mr. W. G. Wheatcroft The number of directors had increased since 1866, at the outset of the project, when they were named as Frederick William Stevens, Tor House, Matlock, colour manufacturer, Thomas Walters, Matlock Bridge, draper, Charles Stevens, Matlock, butcher & farmer, George Staley, Tansley, farmer, George Knowles, Matlock Bridge, stone merchant, Matthew Marriott, Matlock Bridge, seed merchant & Robert Skirrow, Matlock Bridge, coal merchant[3]. The lists of shareholders varied between about 27 and 35[4]. Below are quotations from two books about Matlock that mention the Market Hall. "The new Market Hall, opened in 1869 [sic], is a chaste and prettily designed Gothic building, and is conveniently arranged with internal shops and stalls (Black[5])". "The Market Hall, a private undertaking, was commenced in April 1867, and opened on the 18th May in the following year. The style of architecture, which is but tame, was described at the time as Continental Gothic. ... The hall proper, somewhat of a gloomy chamber, has twelve shops arranged along two sides, let to various tradesmen. There are also stalls for the sale of various articles down the centre. Over this is the Assembly Room, 74ft. by 35ft., and capable of seating 500 persons, approached by a wide stone staircase from the entrance vestibule. Offices are also provided, and from the lobby in front of these there is another staircase. The scheme included the remodelling of the Queen's Hotel". "A butter and general market was opened in the Market Hall on the 2nd of June, 1881 ... the Market Hall is open daily for the sale of provisions and other commodities (Bryan[6])" Despite such great expectations of success, the Matlock Bridge Hotel and Market Hall Company was unfortunately wound up and and the Extraordinary General Meeting was held on 28 April 1884[4]. See London Gazette 15 April 1884 elsewhere on this website		Can you help identify these coats of arms? Various sources have been checked but the arms do not seem to belong to the ancient Matlock families.