Drivers on the A6 near Matlock Bath will have noticed scaffolding and work underway on the roof of the Homesford Tearooms as owners replace an ageing tiled roof that has long been a familiar sight on the approach to the town.
Longstanding roadside 'billboard' taken down for safety
The roof, which has carried large white lettering and an arrow that historically pointed across the road to the Homesford Cottage Inn, is being removed because of its poor condition. Staff say leaks have become persistent and slates are falling, creating what they describe as a hazard for customers and passers‑by.
Speaking about the decision to replace the roof, the tearooms' manager said the work could not be deferred. She told the BBC staff had been left with no choice because of the state of the roof: it was leaking, slates were dropping and it presented a risk to customers enjoying the tearooms.
"It's the most famous roof in Derbyshire isn't it? It's got to be. It was always like a billboard... The roof does need replacing, it's a very old roof. We've got leaks everywhere."
The building's landlord confirmed the white lettering has been in place since the 1950s and said there are plans to recruit a signwriter to add lettering again after the roof work is complete. He has not yet decided what the replacement lettering will read.
Local affection and memories
Since the announcement on social media that the roof would be replaced, the team at the tearooms say they have been contacted by many people recounting memories of the sign. Some responses underline the sign's cultural resonance: two women separately told staff they had been named Kimberley after the lettering on the roof.
That reference recalls another piece of local history: the roof lettering historically mentioned Kimberley Ale, a beer which has not been brewed since 2006, and gave directions to the Homesford Cottage Inn, which has been closed for more than a decade.
- Location: Homesford Tearooms, beside the A6, Matlock Bath
- Lettering in place since: 1950s (landlord's account)
- Homesford Cottage Inn: closed for more than a decade
- Kimberley Ale: no longer brewed since 2006
- Reason for works: leaking roof, slates falling, safety concerns
Work is already under way to replace the roof. The tearooms' manager and the landlord have both indicated an intention to preserve the building's characteristic look by re‑introducing large lettering after repairs are finished, though the precise wording remains undecided.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original lettering | White letters and arrow pointing to Homesford Cottage Inn |
| Noted dates | Lettering present since 1950s; Kimberley Ale out of production since 2006 |
| Current status | Roof being replaced due to leaks and falling slates; lettering to be reconsidered |
For residents and regular visitors, the roof has functioned as more than a sign for a tearoom. Its prominent lettering and arrow have worked as a local landmark and a reminder of businesses and beer names that belong to an earlier era of the Peak District's roadside culture.
Those memories appear to have informed the decision to maintain the tradition. The landlord said he would be "very upset" if the roof's role as a roadside billboard was lost and hopes a signwriter can be found to reproduce or reinterpret the lettering once the new roof is in place.
Until then, motorists and pedestrians will see a plain roof where letters once declared directions and a beer name; for many in the Matlock area, the expectation is that the familiar message — or a new variant of it — will return when the safety work is finished.
