A Short History of Coupland Place

by SLHS on Monday 4 November 2019

THE EARLY HISTORY
JOHN COUPLAND
BIRK’S TERRACE, COUPLAND PLACE
MARKET INN & THE OLD MARKET PLACE
ABBOTT’S GROCERY STORE
THE GHOST OF COUPLAND PLACE
THE LATER YEARS

1. EARLY HISTORY

The exact date that Coupland Place was established is not known, but the houses were built around the mid-19th century and were some of the earliest dwellings on Somercotes Common. They were named after John or Thomas Coupland who had partnerships in several of the earlier collieries around Birchwood and Cotes Park. It is believed that Thomas had the houses built for the colliery workers but that the area was probably named after his father John.

Coupland Place consisted of rows of terraced houses in a small cross formation, and the development included shops and workplaces. Each house had a garden. Most of the houses were built in a ‘two-up-two-down’ format which was the standard construction for most workers terraced houses throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.

There was a pattern to living in these houses that barely changed from the day they were built to the time of their demolition. The back room was the living room where the family would spend most of their waking hours outside of work. It consisted of a sink for washing pottery and preparing food, a range which had a fire and ‘built-in’ oven and grate, there was usually a table and chairs and a place for seating. Although cramped by today’s standards it was the way most working class families lived. The range would eventually be replaced with a gas or electric cooker but the room stayed essentially the same. The front room on the ground floor was often the ‘best room’, where there would be a fireplace, table and chairs and certainly a dresser of some description. This room was used only to entertain guests and often used only on Sunday’s. Upstairs would be two bedrooms, divided by the staircase which was accessed from the scullery [often the underside of the staircase would be used as a pantry]. Depending on the size of the family, the front bedroom would be used by parents and the back bedroom by children, but these houses, especially in the 19th century, were noted for the number of people living under one roof. There was no bathroom and the toilet was outside, separated from the house itself. Originally an ‘earth closet’, these were converted to a water closet [or ‘WC’] in the 20th century.

The land that constituted Coupland Place was not all developed at the same time. Local newspapers continued to run auction notices for land throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Whether or not the original houses were all owned by the Coupland family is not known, but sale notices imply that by the late 19th century this was certainly not the case. An example is a notice printed in the Nottingham Journal published on 14 December 1867, one of many: “To be sold by auction - at the Rose & Crown Inn - Lot 1 – All these Two dwelling houses situate in or near to Coupland-place, Somercotes with Gardens and appurtenances thereto belonging, now in the occupation of William Ball and Richard Gascoinge”. Sadly, not one advertisement gives the actual address of the property but the census of 1871 records William Ball, a coal miner, living with his wife, Sarah and family at no. 28 Coupland Place. Richard Gasciogne and his family, however, appear to have moved to Seely Terrace.

2. JOHN COUPLAND

John Coupland was born on 22 May 1789 in North Hykham, Lincolnshire. His parents, Richard Coupland and Susannah Andrew became non-conformists and John was baptised, along with his sister on 7 July 1797. It is not certain what occupation John’s Father had, but it is likely that he was a farmer. John married Jane Smith at St. Botolph’s in Lincoln in 1814

Nothing is known about John’s early life, or how he came to own land and mineral rights in Birchwood and Somercotes. He seems to have had several partnerships with others who were important names in the history of mining at Birchwood during the early 19th century, notably Humphrey Goodwin, Sir Charles Seely, John Poundall and John Keyworth, although not all at the same time. From certain records it appears that John started as a flour merchant, but coal, by the turn of the 19th century was known as the ‘black gold’ of the industrial revolution and many investors with no prior knowledge or expertise in mining were willing to invest their money in the hope of large returns. Such was John’s investment in the area that at one point he owned a colliery at Cotes Park which he named ‘Skellingthorpe’ after the village where he then lived. His investments helped create the Birchwood Colliery complex that became known locally as ‘Shady’ and on 1 May 1847 he purchased a further 26 acres of land at Birchwood from William Dannah, which was a continuous strip from today’s Bonsall Drive to the bottom of Birchwood Lane.

There is no documentary evidence that John Coupland came to Birchwood or Somercotes, and it is possible that he never actually visited the area. His investments, though, made him a wealthy man.

One advertisement for an auction appearing in the Nottinghamshire Review and General Advertiser for the 14th October 1836 is shown below.

The estate runs to some 74 acres, all situated at Birchwood and the sale included the land and mineral rights. Many of the field names are ancient and it is not known exactly where most of them are located, but the Smithy Croft, referred to in the advertisement, is certainly known to have been at Smotherfly. At certain times, John Coupland had partnerships with both John Poundall and Humphrey Goodwin, mentioned in the advertisement.

An article appeared in the “Chelmsford Chronicle, published on the 5th September 1845 regarding an “Important sale by Auction of an Estate in Lincolnshire” Part of the article is transcribed as follows: “…the property of the heirs of the late Ellys Anderson Stephens Esq. of Bower Hall in this county took place at the Mart, London on 28th Ult. …After a spirited competition between the Hon. Lord Worsley and other influential capitalists the estate was knocked down and sold for sixty thousand pounds to John Coupland Esq. of Skellingthorpe, near Lincoln.” In 1845, the sum of sixty thousand pounds was a considerable amount of money. Even taking the simplest of calculations the minimum equivalent rate in the year 2000 would have been over 3.5 million pounds.

The 1851 census records John living at ‘The Hall’ Lincoln Road, Skellingthorpe. By then his wife had died, and he was sharing the property with four servants. On the census document his occupation was described as ‘Flour and Coal Merchant’.

John Coupland died in 1855. A transcript from the Morning Chronicle obituary column of the 9th February 1855 reads simply; “On the 5th inst. of Skellingthorpe Hall, Lincoln, John Coupland Esq, aged 65”. By the time of his death John’s son Thomas, was already involved in the business.

His name lives on in the road in Somercotes that still bears his name to this day.

3. BIRK’S TERRACE, COUPLAND PLACE

Birk’s Terrace was a row of houses within Coupland Place. It is not clear whether this row of houses pre-dates Coupland Place or was built after the area was established. How it became known as Birk’s Terrace is also a mystery. The earliest mention found in local newspapers is from an auction of property in 1879. It is clear though that the houses had been built some time prior to the sale. The notice is printed in the Derbyshire Times & Chesterfield Herald, published on 24 May 1879: “SOMERCOTES - VALUABLE FREEHOLD PROPERTY - BE SOLD BY AUCTION, by MR. H. CUPIT, at the house of Mr. George Maltby, the "Tiger Inn," in Somercotes, in the County of Derby, On TUESDAY, the 27th day of May, 1879, at five o'clock in the afternoon, the following or in such other Lot or Lots as may be determined upon the time of sale, and subject to conditions to be then and there produced. LOT L All those FIVE MESSUAGES or DWELLINGHOUSES, with the Yards, Gardens, Outbuildings, and appurtenances belonging thereto, and occupied herewith, situate and being at Somercotes aforesaid, (being part of Birk's Terrace), in the respective occupations of John Patrick, Joseph Fiddler, Joseph Wharton, Thomas Swanwick, and William Neale. LOT 2. All those SEVEN MESSUAGES or DWELLINGHOUSES, with the Yards, Gardens, Outbuildings, and appurtenances belonging thereto, and occupied herewith, situate and being at Somercotes aforesaid, (also being part of Birk's Terrace as aforesaid), in the respective occupations of Jesse Nicholls, John Langton, John Mills, sen., John Mills, jun., Mrs. Langton, Alfred Tomkins, and Richard Mills. The several Tenants will on application show the property, and further particulars may be obtained from Mr. Wm. Rowe, Somercotes, Mr. John T. Bingham, Somercotes; the Auctioneer (Mr. H. Cupit), ‘George Hotel,’ Alfreton; or at the offices FREDK. STANLEY RICKARDS, Solicitor, Alfreton. Alfreton, May 8th, 1879.”

MAP SHOWING BIRK'S TERRACE

Although Birk’s Terrace is mentioned by name in the auction notice it was not in common use. The census return, for example, refers to the houses as part of Coupland Place. For this reason it is difficult to research the history of this terrace. Many of the occupants of the houses mentioned in the newspaper are recorded in the 1881 census, taken less than two years later:

Jesse Nicholls, a coal miner, lived at No. 8 Birk’s Terrace

William Neale, a labourer at the ironworks, lived at No. 10 Birk’s Terrace

Alfred Tomkins, a coal miner, lived at No. 11 Birk’s Terrace

Richard Mills, a coal miner, lived at No. 12 Birk’s Terrace

John Mills senior, an agricultural labourer, lived at No. 13 Birk’s Terrace

Joseph Wharton, a coal miner, lived at No. 16 Birk’s Terrace

Joseph Fiddler, a coal miner, lived at No. 18 Birk’s Terrace

The other people mentioned in the newspaper had moved house in the intervening months. For example, John Patrick, a coal miner, lived on Nottingham Road, Somercotes in 1881, as did John Langton, an iron moulder at the ironworks.

4. MARKET INN & THE OLD MARKET PLACE

The Market Inn is a tavern which has all but been erased from living memory. It stood in Coupland Place and was the home of the Somercotes Market, before the Market Place itself was built, which is now opposite the junction of Nottingham Road and Birchwood Lane.

It was a large inn with several outbuildings and stables. In the early 1860s and 1870s it seems that it had a reputation which made it difficult for the proprietor to obtain a beer licence, as newspapers report on several occasions that such licences were refused.

In Reginald Johnson’s book “The History of Alfreton” the Market Inn is mentioned specifically, probably due to certain documents he had located. One was an advertisement for the Inn which appeared in a local almanac dated 1871. Following is a transcript from Johnson’s book: “THE MARKET INN - SOMERCOTES” - Thos. Flowers – Proprietor - The arrangements of this inn, which is attached to the market, are well adapted for the convenience of persons attending the market from a distance. There is good stabling, a commodious house, well aired beds provided. Botanic and other beers supplied.”

Thomas Flowers was still the landlord in 1876, when he was listed in the Post Office Directory. Further information can also be extracted from Reginald Johnson’s book, which continues “…The subsequent history of this house, in Coupland Place, is of interest. After Thomas Fowler’s death his wife continued the business, but for infringing the licensing laws, her beer licence was not renewed. The good lady promptly made the premises into a club-house, which it continued to be for many years…”.

When Mrs. Flowers changed the premises to a club house it is probable that the name also changed from the Market Inn to the Market House. In 1890, the premises were sold by Messrs. William Watson, auctioneers, who advertised the sale in local newspapers - “…All that Commodious House, now called the Market House (formerly a beer-house) situate in Market Place, Somercotes with large clubroom, stabling for eight horses, large shed with 16 market stalls, wherein is held the market.”

Market Place is referenced on a map of Somercotes dating from 1884 situated within Coupland Place, although the Market Inn is not separately listed, implying that it had already changed to the Market House by this date.

Sometime after the sale in 1890 it seems that the building underwent a change of use, and the Market Inn faded from memory.

5. ABBOTT’S GROCERY & PROVISION STORE

This small local grocery chain was established by Luke Abbott and his son, William Henry Abbott. Neither was born in Somercotes. William Henry was born on 4 May 1860 in Holloway, in the parish of Ashover, Derbyshire, where his father Luke was a grocer. The Abbott family moved to Somercotes prior to the Census taken in 1881. Luke Abbott is recorded on this census living with his family at 41, Coupland Place, Somercotes where he was a self-employed grocer. His son, William Henry was 21 years of age and was recorded as a painter [and decorator]. A few years after this census was taken William had changed his profession and joined his father in the grocery business and in 1886 he erected warehouses and other premises at Coupland Place, as part of the growing grocery business.

By 1891, when that year’s census was taken, William may have already taken over the business from his father, who is described on the record as a grocer’s assistant, while his son was the grocer. The address on the census return is the Market Place, Coupland Place, Somercotes. Whilst this simply may be a mistake written into the records, it would appear that William Henry was becoming the driving force behind the business. On 6 October the same year William Henry married Maria Merriman at the Church of St. James in Riddings, at the time the parish church, and they made their home on Sleetmoor Lane, where they would spend the rest of their lives.

The history of the business is not very well documented. The shop premises on Coupland Place would only have attracted local customers, but by the late 1890’s and the early part of the 20th century Somercotes and its environs were rapidly expanding and a number of shops had been established between the National School and the High Street on Nottingham Road. It is there where Abbott’s opened a second grocery and provisions shop in Somercotes, which would undoubtedly have attracted a much larger number of customers.

A change to the business took place in 1907, although the reasons and exact details are not known. The Ripley & Heanor News reported on 10 May that year that Lee, Son & Coupe offered for sale by auction the shop and premises in the occupation of Abbott & Co. Mr John Wheeldon purchased the premises for £510. William Henry Abbott though, was still in business, and the location of the premises sold was not made clear in the newspaper article. In June 1915 William purchased a further plot of land in Coupland Place and two years later gifted land to Alfreton Urban District Council in order for them to widen and improve the public road there.

A further major change took place on 12 April 1920, when a private limited company was registered in the name of J. Abbott & Co. Ltd., with a capital of £15,000 in £1 shares. The company was registered to take over the business of “…a grocer and provision dealer carried on by W. H. Abbott.” The directors of the new company were noted as Mr T Hulbert, of Pinxton, Mr W Poyser of Langley Avenue, Somercotes and Mr E Jepson [Secretary], of Bank Street, Somercotes, with the registered address of the business given as Coupland Place. Although there is no mention of William Henry Abbott as a director of the new company, it is known that he had shares in the business. He would have been almost 60 years of age at this time. Where the name “J. Abbott” came from is not clear, other than John Abbott was William’s grandfather.

William and his wife Maria were well-known and respected in the district. This can be seen in an article published in the Ripley & Heanor News on 11 June 1937: “A very interesting event took place on Monday at the Church Hall at the fortnightly tea organised by the lady members of Somercotes Parish Church. After tea the unveiling of a bronze tablet took place. Mr. Hicking presided. The Rev. R. E. Birtwistle, M.A., removed the covering from the tablet, which was inscribed as follows: ‘This tablet is erected as a token of gratitude and to commemorate the opening of this hall on Oct. 14th, 1936, by Mr. William Henry Abbott, whose zeal and generosity enabled the scheme to be carried out.’ Mr. Abbott was unaware of what was taking place, and in expressing his surprise graciously appreciated the acknowledgment of all he had done. 'There was a good company present, who sang "For he's a jolly good fellow." The tablet has been subscribed for by members of St. Thomas' Church.”

William Henry died on 6 March 1947, at the grand age of 86 years. Part of his Last Will & Testament was published in the Ripley & Heanor News 25 July the same year: “SOMERCOTES WILL - Mr. William Henry Abbott, of Sleetmoor Lane, Somercotes, retired grocer, who died on March 6th left £62,871 9s 5d. gross, with net Personalty £62,624 11s. 5d. (duty paid £16,978). He left £500 to Philip Heath Merriman and £50 to his wife, Winnie. All shares in the Victoria Malt Vinegar Brewery Co. Ltd., to his son Leslie. £7.000 mortgage debentures in J. Abbott and Co. Ltd., to his daughter Doris. £500 and 250 ordinary shares and a hundred six per cent preference shares in J. Abbott and Co., Ltd., to his friend, Edward Jepson, and the residue between his two children, Leslie Abbott of Sheffield and Doris Abbott of Sleetmoor Lane. Somercotes, to whom probate has been granted.” The Will indicates that William had owned almost 50% of the company, along with other investments.

The company continued its expansion and opened premises in other towns and villages. By the 1930’s and 1940’s they had shops in Somercotes, Pinxton, Swanwick and South Wingfield and by 1953 had added Crich, Wessington and Huthwaite to their portfolio.

PHOTO: COUPLAND PLACE IN THE EARLY 1970's , BEFORE DEMOLITION

Changes to the retail environment and no doubt other issues in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s resulted in the closure of the company and sale of the premises. The shop and warehouse on Coupland Place was one of the first premises to be compulsorily purchased by the Alfreton Urban District Council as part of their redevelopment strategy for the area. It was demolished as part of regeneration of Coupland Place. The business closed in 1971.

6. THE GHOST OF COUPLAND PLACE

The “Ghost of Coupland Place” was a tale well-known to young people who used to scare one another on long winter nights, and although it seems to be a fairly recent story its origins quickly became lost in time. Research has not been able to push the story back beyond 1926, a date confirmed by local newspapers which reported on a further sighting of the “ghost” four years later. Much was written about the 1930 sighting in the press at the time. A long article appeared in the Nottingham Evening Post on 9 July 1930, transcribed in full as follows: “VILLAGE TERROR - RETURN OF SOMERCOTES GHOST - SEEN "COMING OUT OF A WALL - MINERS WHO SPENT NIGHT IN HAYFIELD. The Somercotes ghost, which caused a big scare four years ago, has apparently not been laid. An apparition is now giving the Coupland Place district residence much uneasiness o' nights, and at least 20 people are stated to have fled from it. Hundreds of people from the villages around, armed with sticks and accompanied by dogs, invade the scene two or three nights a week in an effort to lay the ghost. It is elusive, however. Those who have seen it swear it is real enough. Yesterday, Mr. Tom Davidson said: "I was standing with four other miners near my house late in the evening, discussing a complaint about coal stealing. Tom Ladyman, who was with me, suddenly exclaimed, 'Look, there's a woman coming up the garden. I was not afraid, and when I got down the entry the figure had disappeared. I looked over my shoulder as I was returning, and saw the figure come out of the wall of a house. I tried to move away, with my face towards it, but it followed steadily. I was almost paralysed with fear, and when I got to the top of the entry I stopped. I could not believe my own eyes. I am quite sure it was no trick. All five of us ran away, and we were joined by two others. Seven of us went back, and a man named Taylor dare not go down the entry to his home. He said, ‘Let’s go to Alfreton (a mile away) out of the way,' and we went and sat in a hayfield praying for daylight to come." “A MISTY FIGURE - Mr. Davidson added: “It was a misty figure, about 5ft. 9in. in height, had a box-like head, with glaring eyes. It was white when I first saw it, and then it seemed to be dressed to the ground in black. I saw the figure again when I had gone to bed. I was sleeping alone in the back bedroom when I heard a sound. I went to the window and looked over the sill. At first I saw nothing, but glancing to the left I saw the same figure near a coalhouse. I fled to my father's bedroom, and told him, and he returned with me, but could see nothing. I had another look, and it had moved eight yards between two pigeon houses, and finally glided into them. Every night since I have gone to bed with a light, and lie awake until daylight. I have no idea who or what it is, but would swear on oath it is no human being." Mr. Leonard Selby, of Coupland-place, has also seen the apparition. He said, "The first time I saw it I was alone, and the second time 15 companions were with me. It has eyes like electric bulbs. The 15 young men decided they were not afraid of ghosts, and Selby, who was one of the company, boldly went down the entry to have look. He ran back and shouted, ‘Come on, it's here!’ The men, armed with sticks, persuaded Selby to return promising they would support. Selby saw it again, and the 15 forgot their promise and fled, falling over one another in the entry in their flight. Wives will not let their husbands out at night, and children will not to bed. All the Coupland-place residents ask for is peace and quietness, and as one of them said, "We want someone responsible, who understands these things, to help us." The police think it may be the work of a practical joker. Coupland-place only wishes it could share that view. The ghost has been seen by the following: Thomas Ladyman, Fred Ladyman, of Birks-terrace; Walter Fantom, his brother, Leonard Selby, and Tom Davidson”.

Another newspaper, the Sheffield Independent, also printed the story on the same day, with headlines guaranteed to interest the reader: “SPECTRE WITH GLARING EYES – BOX-FACED TERROR IN DERBYSHIRE VILLAGE – MEN SCARED – The inhabitants of Somercotes are terrified at the re-appearance in Coupland-place of a ghost which first appeared in 1926. Two Somercotes miners named Tom Davidson and Leonard Selby both say they have seen the ghost…” The story in the newspaper then, although told differently, follows the same story as other publications.

The Derbyshire Times & Chesterfield Herald also joined the media frenzy with a story once again published on 9 July 1930, but they took a more sober view of events, possibly spurred on by the authorities. Their report states: “SOMERCOTES GHOST – ANOTHER PRACTICAL JOKER AT WORK – FORMER INCIDENT RECALLED – The Somercotes Ghost has given the evening papers a really good “stunt” during the “silly season” and they have been doing their best during the week to make the people’s hair curl with thrills and creepy stories. Coupland Place is the scene of these ghostly visitations, and so freely have certain writers drawn on their imagination that a certain Matlock specialist will really have to look to his laurels! Coupland Place’s forst ghost appeared some four years ago during the coal strike, and as we remember, the facts concerning that practical joke a disclosure of the details may help to remove the fears of the ladies of Coupland Place and help them to lift the ban upon their husbands movements at night, seeing that according to one account there is a resemblance in the latest visitation to that of 1926. For months in that year miners had nothing to do and some of the young fraternity in this area made night hideous for the local people who desired to go to bed. Rest was impossible and annoyance reached the limit of endurance when a resident of Seely Terrace determined upon a ruse to route these disturbers. He garbed himself in white and with outstretched arms and fingers in true ghostly fashion tripped along the side of certain railings and a wall towards the assembled company. The apparition had a magical effect and quickly dispersed the young miners, who to this day speak of the 1926 ghost. The “ghost” returned, as it had come, to its house, and a few of the brave spirits swore that it vanished through a wall. One of the company was supposed to have become ill as the result of this spectral visitation and the ghost himself wondered for some time whether he had better make a clean breast of what he had done. The practical joke achieved its object. Probably the scared folk of Coupland Place recall the incident, and some wag as set himself the task of emulating that accomplishment. But if these are the days of free education they are also the days of credulity, and youths who hailed as far away as Stonebroom were to be found this week in Somercotes looking for the ghost. While the joke has been enjoyed by some people, others are frankly displeased with it, because the silly story has a disturbing influence upon the children. The police regard the whole thing with complete indifference so far so the story itself goes, but they are concerned with the congregation of gossipers in the street at late hours of the night. The authors of the ghost story could scarcely have estimated the extent of the notoriety which the district would gain from their joke. On Wednesday night a crown estimated at between two hundred and three hundred gathered in anticipation of seeing the ghost. Some of them came in motor cars from such distant places as Derby, Nottingham, Sutton-in-Ashfield, while two photographers with full equipment were ready to snap the spectre. Some of them actually lingered in the vicinity until 2am on Thursday. Local residents are bitterly complaining about the nuisance of these nocturnal visitors. On Wednesday night the vicinity of the wall through which the apparition is supposed to have come was thronged with people. A white cat in the early hours took a stroll along the top of this wall and this caused intense excitement. The matter is no fun for the police, on whom extra duties are thrown, and the sooner the silly joke is ended, and the curious find some other subject for their attention the better Somercotes will be pleased.”

7. THE LATER YEARS

By the mid-1950’s the state of the houses on Coupland Place had deteriorated and they were already being considered for demolition. The Alfreton Urban District Council had many such houses in their district. Being a predominantly mining area whose population had quickly grown throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries the majority of the housing stock was old and without basic indoor facilities. Although the tenants took pride in their houses and the community spirit remained strong, it was acknowledged that many of the dwellings within the urban district were not fit for habitation. Throughout this period plans were made to build new houses and to demolish wholesale the areas considered as uninhabitable. Properties were to be purchased by the council and the tenants removed to the new housing estates, such as the South Spire Estate at Somercotes. The main problem the council had was one of finance, due to the large number of properties that fell within the criteria for re-development.

Houses that had long been a problem, however, were dealt with in order of necessity. The Alfreton Urban District Council’s annual report for 1959 stated that houses demolished during the period included Nos. 71, 72, 73 and 74, Coupland Place. In the report for 1964 house nos. 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60 Coupland Place had been served demolition orders.

Over the following years improvement was made throughout the urban district with many families being rehoused, but Coupland Place remained stubbornly intact, possibly due to the size of the area involved, the number of families to be moved and the overall cost of demolition and redevelopment. In the early 1970’s the council had already purchased commercial properties such as Abbott’s grocery store and warehouse and the Salem Chapel as part of its long term strategy, but this only helped to speed up the deterioration of the rest of the area.

On 1 April 1974 the Councils of the Alfreton Urban District, Belper, Heanor and Ripley were merged to form the Amber Valley Borough Council, who then took over the responsibility for housing.

An Officers Report relating to Coupland Place submitted to the Housing Committee of the council dated 12 June 1978 summed up the history and the position of the council at that time: “The development scheme for Coupland Place was initiated by Alfreton Urban District Council to fulfil a long-standing promise to residents in that area. The intention was firstly to clear an area of predominantly slum properties and secondly to provide housing for residents. The clearance of the site and its redevelopment had been considered by Alfreton Urban District Council for over 30 years, site acquisitions starting long before reorganisation, and two non-residential areas, viz Abbotts Shop and Warehouse and the Salem Chapel, had been acquired by that Authority. However, problems, particularly of finance and site acquisition, held back development and the area continued to deteriorate. The consultant architect and surveyor were appointed on 8 November 1973 with a brief to plan the interior of the Coupland Place area, excluding the perimeter. The scheme was accepted by Amber Valley Borough Council as part of its housing programme [Policy Committee Minute No.73 of 13 November 1974].”

The report continued to detail certain aspects of the project through many meetings of the housing committee over the following months and years. On 30 June 1976, permission was granted for the Compulsory Purchase Order in relation to most of the land and property that fell within the redevelopment area but on 12 July that year the Government of the day placed severe restrictions on Local Authorities with regard to finance and new development schemes, which, as the Officers Report indicated, would be ‘likely to delay the complete redevelopment of Coupland Place for many years.’

Many of the houses within the Authority had already been improved through a government loan scheme and grant, which enabled public and private owners to refurbish properties. This included the building of indoor bathroom and toilet facilities, re-wiring and the replacement of windows and doors. Houses such as those on Seely Terrace, Somercotes were refurbished in this way, but due to the plans hanging over Coupland Place the houses there continued to remain as they were.

It was considered that any further delays to the project were unacceptable and discussions began between the Council and the Guinness Trust Housing Association who already owned property at Riddings. Although the financial transactions between the Council and Guinness Trust were complicated, the agreement was made and the Compulsory Purchase Order was initiated. Those residents that required rehousing were offered new accommodation in various council properties, particularly on the South Spire Estate, and the old houses on Coupland Place, all but a few, were demolished. The area was replaced by a mixture of housing including warden controlled flats for senior citizens and houses which could be rented by council tenants. Although the layout of the area changed and new street names adopted, one small area was given the name Coupland Place for continuity.