Fascinating archive photos show how a local Belper business has changed over time
JET Lower Kilburn in Belper, Derbyshire, is giving readers the opportunity to look at the site as it appeared over four decades ago.
One family has owned the site for over half a century and today it’s still the case – Teresa McDermott is the second generation to take it on.
“My father and mother took over the site from my uncle in 1975,” said Teresa. “They both worked very hard to make the garage what it is today, and I’m very proud to now be able to keep that legacy going.”
Turning back the clock
Today, Lower Kilburn offers all the mod-cons you might expect from a service station in 2025 (self-service fuel payment, coffee-on-the-go facilities and the eye-catching yellow and blue JET branding), but that wasn’t always the case…
“When my parents first took on the site, it was mainly a replacement engine workshop with only one petrol pump on the forecourt that needed to be wound up to work. At the time, the fuel was provided by the now obsolete, Imperial Chemical Industries, which will be a throwback for some!"
Teresa’s parents – Miriam and Derek Harvey – implemented a complete refurb, installing new pumps, a ‘state-of-the-art’ fax machine and new branding in 1975. Lower Kilburn became a JET site in 1999 and remains with the fuel brand to this day.
Today, the site is a cornerstone of the local community, selling 115,000 litres of fuel a week. Clean, tidy, and known for its first-class service with a smile, Lower Kilburn Service Station has earned a loyal customer base and an all-star team of employees. Recently, long-standing staff member Maggie Hunt retired after 17 years working for the business.
What’s the secret to Lower Kilburn’s longevity?
“Keeping it in the family and championing the people who make us fly as a business!” says Teresa.