Swallows

[Pete]

Not a very old picture, 1960s? but an interesting shot. Next door to the Burtons building?

[Old Cruser]

I remember Swallows!

[therealjr]

Now there's strange. If you'd asked me I'd have sworn swallows was down more in the market place near the entrance to Vicar lane

[Fly]

Just beat me literaly by seconds nicheuk 

[Pete]

This is the view from Knifesmithsgate with the Vic veranda behind you. Looking down towards Packers Row. Fly's viewpoint

[Fly]

Shame I can't remember it 

[therealjr]

Ah confusion with turners thanks

[Old Cruser]

Shame I can't remember it 

Just too young flybynight 

We have no shops now like John Turners, Swallows and the Co-Op -all gone 

[Pete]

Yes they do. 

[therealjr]

No they don't. Think about it. What's the biggest monstrosity of a building built in chesterfield in recent(ish) times? Answer the AGD. Would planning allow something like that now? No. Was it all the rage when it was built and the winner of design awards? Yes. Times and tastes change.

[Old Cruser]

Can we really compare the AGD with the Swallows building?

[Pete]

Sorry Jon, I disagree.

For a start I liked the AGD - different strokes for different folks.

Swallows was one of the best examples of "Black and White" buildings and should have been preserved so Chesterfield didn't become another bland town with no or little character of its own.

Please don't quote design awards, they are a false measurement that, as you say, are looking for something that fits an "all the rage" criteria. Remember how Tracey Emin won the Turner prize with her piece "Bed"? 

I think Chesterfield should exploit its charms as a tourist attraction. The Shambles has great potential for that kind of shop and we have several old places of historical importance - plus the market and Market Hall.

I also think that, in the light of the Donut development put on hold, it should be re-done as a proper car park - we've enough shops and not enough affordable parking at the moment. As a "tourist" idea why not make the Donut a Tourist car park? With the parking fees refundable in some way if someone spends in a "Tourist designated" shop?

This is off the top of my head - just trying to "think outside the box", so please don't ask for specifics, I just think some serious thought about how we market (pun intended) our town.

The trouble with folks in this town is that they whinge and moan about everything and criticize anyone who dares to suggest anything that is radical compared with the usual boring ideas the powers that be suggest. We need someone with vision and courage to drive this town forwards and oversee investment for a sustainable plan for our town centre before "economic forces" turn it into a bag of you know what.

We will have less and less opportunities left before it's too late.

[~Aitch~]

A blast from my families history my Grandmother worked there in the 1950s . The building was were Specsavers is now the part in the photo on the Burlington Street side the building then went around the corner onto Knightsmiths Gate but was Tudor in design. My Gran loveded working untill she got married the Swallows family house was up Brampton sometimes my Gran would take parcels up to the bosses house.

My mother worked in Swallows in the 50's too.