Like something from a David Lynch film, I stumbled upon this long gone car dealership in the South Derbyshire town of Church Gresley this week. A mixed array of 10 grotty seventies cars lined up in a welded steel cage and covered in a thin film of dust caught my eye as I drove past. Closer inspection and a look through the window revealed a 2002 calendar on the wall and a pile of paperwork. The signs of desperation on top of the cars further fuelled the mystery and I regret to say, I have no answers. Maybe the owner went bust in huge and dramatic circumstances and the legal battles persist to this day, or maybe he died a bitter and twisted man. Only car worth a cent was a 1971 Beetle, but never worth £2500 ‘bought with all faults’, even in 2002.
5 comments:
I can answer that, Toby old chap! In 2002, the residents of Castle Gresley decided to annexe Albert Village. The fighting was long and hard, and enmeshed Church Gresley until, finally, Tony Blair responded to a desperate plea from Dennis Skinner and called in the UN. A truce was called, but despite endless meetings between the combatants, no resolution has ever been forthcoming. This garage is on the disputed demarcation line, a no-go area for all. Surprised you got so close without being shot.
Actually, I might have got this mixed up with Cyprus. It’s near there isn’t it?
Love it Toby. As you say, very David Lynch. All it needs is for Dennis Hopper to appear out of the toilets breathing in amyl nitrate through a clear plastic mask.
Albert Village. Now there's a name. Having grown up in the area I always thought it such a pleasant name, until I saw the place. A run down colliery town. You're right Peter. I'm sure he was round the back in the locked workshop.
Ah now then - this is really something, this blog gets right to the point, no nonsense. I am particularly impressed by the paper work on the desk. Obviously this is in "The North" - here in the Middle Dev would have been in, spruced up the paintwork a bit and let this prime real estate out as a lap dancing club. So many thoughts come to mind at the sight of such recent abandonment - what fun. Carry on
I reckon this plot is enmeshed in a long-running probate row. That, or it's covered in hidden cameras and you Toby, are now an unsuspecting player in a Channel 4 documentary. Like Diplo, I find it oddly reassuring that spooky places like this are still around and not tidied up. Nothing wrong with a bit of weird South Derbyshire decay in the face of relentless 'improvements'. Harumph harumph harumph.
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