#nightlenses

Elliott and Heath Opticians Bring Night Lenses Innovation to Chesterfield

The #nightlenses revolution has arrived in Chesterfield as optician Beth Ralph, the new owner of Elliott & Heath Opticians on Newbold Road, has become the first local fitter of Night Lenses, an incredible eye innovation for shortsighted patients.

Night lenses correct the patient’s vision while they sleep, giving them perfect 20/20 sight during the day without the need for glasses, day lenses or laser eye surgery. This incredible eyecare innovation is growing fast in the UK as patients can finally ditch those specs or day lenses without resorting to laser eye surgery.

So how do they work? Simply pop them on the eye before sleep and they do their magic temporarily reshaping the cornea – the front window of the eye. This allows the light to be redirected to the right focal point at the back of the eye giving clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or contact lenses.

Are there any other benefits? With significant increase in myopia known as short sight in children, some studies show night lenses may also have the effect of slowing progression of the disease. Myopia is not just a vision problem. It leads to increased risks of cataracts, glaucoma and detached retinas as the eye grows too long stretching the structures within the eye. The world health organisation has reported significant increase in myopia world wide due to screen use.

Beth Ralph, Optician and owner of Elliott & Heath Opticians says, "Elliott & Heath have been connecting the residents of Chesterfield with eyecare innovations since 1964, so it made sense for us, as the new custodians of this great local establishment, to continue in that tradition. Night lenses are innovative, on-trend and a gamechanger for short-sighted patients who are fed up with glasses and day lenses, but who don’t want to resort to laser eye surgery. www.nightlenses.com is a great advice site for anyone wanting to find out more about them. As an optician, Night Lenses are one of the most exciting and rewarding things I do.

"The purchase of a topographer not only means that we can bring the #nightlenses revolution to Chesterfield, but it also means that we can deliver a dry eye clinic for those who suffer from this increasingly common ailment. In addition to this, we’re keen to work in collaboration with other local opticians to help raise awareness of the UK myopia epidemic that is affecting the children of Chesterfield. Educating parents about myopia and myopia control at first diagnosis is vital for helping our children to have better sight and better lives. If you have a child with short-sight and want to find out more about myopia, please ask your optician for a MyopiaChat, they’ll be delighted to give you one."

On my bookcase in the studio was the flyer above. It was written by John Hirst, one of the founder members of Brampton Brewery and for a while I've been thinking of contacting John to see if we could reprint it. Whilst cycling home through Somersall Park I bumped into John (not literally) and stopped to chat.

The following pages contain v2 of 'Lost Pubs of Brampton', now just 'Pubs of Brampton' it takes a look at the Brampton Mile and briefly covers the history of each of the establishments along Chatsworth Road.

For those of you that know little of the Brampton Mile it will be an eye opener, for those who remember some of the pubs listed, a trip down memory lane.

A massive thanks go out to John for allowing us to print the list, for updating it and amending the map (shown over the page).

Please feel free to find a table in a local pub, get a drink and take a read.

Furnace Inn (Goytside)

Originally a beerhouse. Rebuilt during 1920. In February 1924 the full licence from the Packers Row Vaults in Chesterfield was transferred to the pub. The name was changed to the Out of Town in 1991, however it closed in 1992. The pub reopened in 1993 as the Unicorn Tavern, a free house selling Federation Ales from Newcastle. In summer 1999 beer supply changed to Mansfield beers. The pub finally closed in the summer of 2010, and is now used as accommodation.

2. Masons Arms (Chatsworth Road)

Originally a beerhouse, owned by Truswell’s brewery, Sheffield. A full licence was transferred to the pub in 1917 from the Bulls Head in the Shambles (also Truswell’s), leaving the Bulls Head to close. After many years as a Stones house, the pub was sold to the Kimberley Brewery in April 1991. After a period of closure, it re-opened in November 2016 as the Junction.

3. Royal Oak (Chatsworth Road)

Leased to the Brampton Brewery in 1869, and was eventually purchased by them in 1897, including three shops. A full licence was granted in 1950. After periods of closure, the pub re-opened in 2019 as the Spotted Frog.

4. Griffin (Old) (Wheatbridge Road)

Bought by the Brampton Brewery prior to 1898 together with 5 cottages, which were demolished in 1925 when the pub was enlarged. It closed in 1977, the site becoming part of Robinsons works. The building has been demolished.

5. Butchers Arms (Wheatbridge Road)

Leased to Brampton Brewery in 1896 for 10 years, bought by the brewery when the lease ran out. Closed in December 1907, under the Compensation Act of 1904. Compensation paid was £1,088 to the brewery and £120 compensation to the landlord. The pub adjoined the Griffin, with both pubs belonging to the same brewery it's probable that, after closure, it was incorporated into one.

6. Bold Rodney (Wheatbridge Road)

Bought by Thos. Rawsons Brewery of Sheffield. After their take over in 1946 it became a Gilmours house, until they, in turn, were taken over by Tetley’s. It closed March 1987, re-opening later the same year as Ziggy’s fun bar, which only survived until 1988 when it closed again. It later re-opened later in the year as Dino’s Restaurant, but changed to the present Dynasty Chinese Restaurant late 1994.

7. Half Moon (Chatsworth Road)

Originally called the New Moon, until around 1872. The pub was at one time leased to the Brampton Brewery, but eventually bought by Wm Stones Ltd. Major structural alterations were completed in 1906, and again in 1917. A full licence was granted in 1952. The pub closed in the early 1970’s, but was not demolished until recently, now replaced by housing accommodation.

8. Durham Ox (Chatsworth Road)

Bought by the Brampton Brewery, together with 4 cottages. Alterations in 1914 brought about the demolition of the cottages. When a full licence was granted in 1953, Arthur Driver had been the licensee for 32 years. In February 1957 the Police referred the pub for closure under the Compensation Act. Although the exact closure date is not known, it was purchased in October that year by Wheeler Electrical Supplies and opened as an electrical showroom in March 1958. The building was originally demolished for the erection of a filling station, the site is now occupied by a retail shopping complex.

9. Alma Inn (Chatsworth Road)

Leased to the Scarsdale Brewery in 1872, by the turn of the century it was leased to Tennants of Sheffield. Sold at auction in July 1920 for £4,325 to the Brampton Brewery, together with 2 cottages on Chatsworth Road and 2 on Alma Street. A full licence was granted in 1951. After being tied to John Smiths for many years, it is now a free house.

10. Grouse Inn (Chatsworth Road)

A beerhouse in 1862, when the landlord was also a roof slater. By 1869 a full licence had been granted. Around this date the pub was leased to the Brampton Brewery, but was eventually bought by Wm Stones brewery of Sheffield. Major alterations took place in 1924. In 1956 further alterations were carried out to form a central bar, although this has now been opened out to create a ‘u’ shaped room. Changed name summer 2022, to Dizzy Duck.

11. New Inn (Chatsworth Road)

In 1869, was a beerhouse owned by the landlord, John Knowles. The pub was eventually bought by Wm Stones Ltd. A full licence was granted in 1952. The pub was sold to the Kimberley Brewery of Nottingham in April 1991. Later sold as a free house re-opening as Sweeney’s in October 1998. The pub was closed briefly for a re-fit in 2002, re-opening December with its original name