Wednesday, November 26, 2014

John Smedley's Hydropathic Institution - Matlock. Link to Umbrella Article

http://www.wirksworth.org.uk/B57-SMED.htm
This is a link to an article from the 1st issue of  UMBRELLA on the Matlock site - 

In searching for something else, I came across a wonderful article from the first ever issue of  Umbrella -the literary magazine produced by the Umbrella Club and first published in October 1958. The article, which deals with John Smedley's Hydropathic Institution in Matlock was written by Geoffrey Saunders (a resident of Coventry) under the pen name of  Geoffrey Demdike and contributed to the Andrews Pages - Matlock and Matlock Bath website by one of the former editors of Umbrella  - Jim Runnalls.

Industrial background of John Smedley
It's an interesting article and worth visiting the site for. Smedley's was a family business in Matlock, and founded in 1784 by Peter Nightingale ( a relation of Florence Nightingale). The mill specialised in the production of muslin and spinning cotton to send out to local cottages with hand frame looms. Towards the end of the 18th century the company had extended its activities to include knitting and hosiery manufacture - said to be the origin of  Long Johns. . By this time, John Smedley was running the business alone, although the Nightingale family retained an interest in the property. As Lea Mills remains open and an operational building to this day, manufacturing the company's range of designer knitwear, John Smedley claims to be world's longest running factory manufacturer over four generations." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Smedley_%28industrialist%29

Hydrotherapy
http://matlockbathonline.co.uk/documents/john_smedley/
"John Smedley's success and growing wealth enabled other grand projects. He developed an interest in hydrotherapy, and built Smedley's Hydro in Matlock, a spa resort that attracted patrons from around the world. As a family home he also built the massive and ostentatious Riber Castle on a hilltop overlooking Matlock. This is now one of  Derbyshire's most famous landmarks. It was built on Matlock Bank in 1853 when it was the largest hydro in the town. Matlock had developed as a spa town after thermal springs were discovered. John Smedley was not the first to recognise and exploit the effects of water treatment on various illnesses."

And it is here that Geoffrey Demdike's article begins, entitled Smedleys Hydro and you can read it on this site, where you will find lots of other fascinating material on the Matlock area.

Screen shot of the Matlock website.
View the Umbrella article in full on the Andrews Pages - Matlock and Matlock and Bath site Here
http://www.andrewsgen.com/matlock/mag/umbrella_smedley.htm

And for more information on the Hydro - see here on the same site.


Monday, March 10, 2014

For Research - Material to be Found in Coventry History Centre.

For anyone wishing to research the Coventry Arts Umbrella Club or any aspects of - the following types of material are held there - Note - this list may not be all the material held.
Coventry History Centre

Programmes.
PA 1884 / 5 / 11 Programmes of the Umbrella Club April 1968 - Nov 1974
PA 1884 / 5 / 10 Programme of the Umbrella Club June 1967 / Feb 1968
PA 1884 / 5 / 103 Newsletters / Programme Sept 1970
PA 1939 / 9 (Also 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14) Umbrella Club Programmes 1960
PA 1939 / 16 Notice of Poetry Reading at Umbrella March 1969

Function and Structure of the Umbrella Club
PA 1884 /1 / 18 Outline of functions and structure of Coventry Arts Umbrella Club late 1960's / Early 1970's

Umbrella Magazine
PA 1884 / 5 / 3 Umbrella Magazine 1959
Umbrella Magazine 1959
PA 1884 / 5 / 5 Umbrella Magazine 1960
PA 1884 / 5 / 2 Umbrella Magazine 1959
PA 1939 / 8 Umbrella Magazine 1959
PA 1884 / 5 / 1 Umbrella magazine Oct 1958
PA 1884 / 4 / 5 (ALSO 7 / 8) Umbrella Magazines 1960 / 62 / 61


Publicity Materials and Press
PA 1884 / 6 / 13  Correspondence and papers relating to publicity for 8th Jan 1962 - 22nd May 1967
PA 1884 / 5 / 14  Advertisement posters for 'Umbrella' - The Magazine  18th Oct 1958 - 18th Oct 1959.
PA 1884 / 1 / 2 Leaflet advertising the Umbrella Club Feb 1960
PA 1884 / 5 / 163 Photo Copy of press cuttings re- Umbrella Club activities 1960 / early 1970's
PA 1939 / 2 Two Volumes of press cuttings 1960 / 67
PA 1939 / 3 Loose Press cuttings 1960 / 69

Material from Little Park street 1955 - 1960
CCD / CES / 1 / 28    97,Little Park Street - History of 1960 - 61
PA / 1184 / 5 / 75 Photos of Spike Milligan 1955

Material from 18, Queen Victoria Road 1960 - 72
PA 1884 /5 /18 Newsletter regarding plans for the Umbrella 1 Aug 1961
PA 1884 / 5 / 44 Programme for building an Arts Centre in Coventry May 1965
PA / 18884 / 5 / 155 Programme for the Importance of Blues and Jazz 1967

Material after 1972 - including The Charterhouse.

Photographs of the Umbrella

PA 1884 /5 / 176 Photograph of exterior of the Umbrella Club 18, Queen Victoria Road 1960's.
PA 1884 / 5 / 193 Photograph of rear of Umbrella Club 18, Queen Victoria Road 1960's

Collections
PA 1884  Collection - Umbrella 1955 - 1995