Matlock Bath

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Matlock Bath
River Derwent at Matlock Bath.jpg
Matlock Bath, viewed from the Heights of Abraham
Derbyshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Matlock Bath
Location within Derbyshire
Population753 (2011)
OS grid reference SK293579
Civil parish
  • Matlock Bath [1]
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town MATLOCK
Postcode district DE4
Dialling code 01629
Police Derbyshire
Fire Derbyshire
Ambulance East Midlands
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Derbyshire
53°07′N1°34′W / 53.11°N 1.56°W / 53.11; -1.56

Matlock Bath is a village and civil parish in Derbyshire, England. It lies in the Derbyshire Dales, south of Matlock on the main A6 road, and approximately halfway between Buxton and Derby. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 753. [2] Originally built at the head of a dead-end dirt road running along the valley of the River Derwent from Matlock, the settlement developed in the 19th century as residential and a spa town which remains a tourist destination. The steep hillside restricts development, with most buildings on one side of the valley and only footbridges across the river. The road was upgraded, becoming a through-way, now designated A6, avoiding the previous coaching road approach to Matlock from Cromford over very steep hills near to the Riber plateau area. [3]

Contents

Matlock Dale is a hamlet about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) north of the village, and the term also refers to this stretch of the river valley.

History

In 1698, warm springs were discovered and a bath house was built. As the waters became better known, access was improved by building the bridge into Old Matlock and in 1783, the opening of a new entrance at the south of the valley. Princess Victoria of Kent's royal visit in 1832 [4] confirmed Matlock as a society venue of the time. Victoria's party visited a pair of museums and a petrifying well. [4] John Ruskin and Lord Byron were visitors, Byron comparing it with alpine Switzerland, leading to a nickname of Little Switzerland . Erasmus Darwin recommended the area to Josiah Wedgwood I for its beauty and soothing waters, and members of the families vacationed and settled there. Edward Levett Darwin, son of Francis Sacheverel Darwin, lived at Dale House in Matlock Bath, where he was a solicitor.

When the North Midland Railway opened in 1840, carriages plied for hire from Ambergate station. The Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway ran a number of excursions, taking the passengers onward from Ambergate by the Cromford Canal.

Matlock Bath is a designated conservation area with an Article 4 direction in relation to properties, predominantly along North and South Parade.

Government

Matlock Bath is in the local government district of Derbyshire Dales, and is part of the parliamentary constituency of the same name. The Member of Parliament is John Whitby of the Labour Party.

Tourism

Fountain in Derwent Gardens Ornamental Fountain - geograph.org.uk - 1861277.jpg
Fountain in Derwent Gardens

Matlock Bath has attractions including the Heights of Abraham park, Gulliver's Kingdom theme park, the Peak District Lead Mining Museum, the former Life in a Lens Museum of Photography & Old Times, the Grand Pavilion, Derwent Gardens, Lovers' Walks and an aquarium.

On the opposite bank of the river Derwent stands High Tor, a sheer cliff used by climbers and walkers. High Tor features Giddy Edge, a narrow winding path along the cliff edge. [5] The Heights of Abraham cable cars link the base of High Tor rising to the Heights of Abraham. [6]

In autumn of each year, the "Venetian Nights" are held with illuminations along the river and illuminated boats.[ citation needed ]

On Sundays in summer many hundreds of motorcyclists congregate in the town.[ citation needed ]

Andrew Asibong's phantasmagorical novel Mameluke Bath is set in a futuristic version of Matlock Bath, [7] and Eleanor Bowen-Jones' film Return to Mameluke Bath explores both real and fictional versions of the town. [8]

Each year the Parish Council organises Pro Loco events in the area. There are pro loco art and photography competitions which are free to enter. [9]

The village is mentioned in the Half Man Half Biscuit song "The Light at the End of the Tunnel (Is the Light of an Oncoming Train)".

Transport

Railway

Matlock Bath railway station was built in 1849 on the Midland Railway line between London and Manchester. The section from Matlock to Buxton was closed in 1968, as result of the Beeching cuts.

Today, trains run generally hourly each way between Matlock and Derby on the Derwent Valley Line, operated by East Midlands Railway.

Roads

The A6, which links Carlisle with Luton, passes through the town; it provides access to Manchester, Stockport, Bakewell, Matlock and Derby.

Sport

The River Derwent in Matlock Bath is a location for canoeing, both recreational and competitive. Matlock Canoe Club hosts national-level wild-water racing and slalom events here, and it is an assessment location for the BCU 4 Star award.

There are numerous cliffs around Matlock Bath used for rock climbing. Generally unequipped, the climbing on the cliffs is in traditional style placing protection as you go. High Tor [10] , Pic Tor [11] , Willersley Castle Rocks [12] , Wildcat crags [13] and many others are all documented as having many climbs.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Derwent, Derbyshire</span> River in Derbyshire, England

The Derwent is a river in Derbyshire, England. It is 50 miles (80 km) long and is a tributary of the River Trent, which it joins south of Derby. Throughout its course, the river mostly flows through the Peak District and its foothills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matlock, Derbyshire</span> County town in England

Matlock is the county town of Derbyshire, England. It is in the south-eastern part of the Peak District, with the National Park directly to the west. The spa resort of Matlock Bath is immediately south of the town as well as Cromford lying further south still. The civil parish of Matlock Town had a population in the 2021 UK census of 10,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whatstandwell</span> Human settlement in England

Whatstandwell is a village on the River Derwent in the Amber Valley district of Derbyshire, England. It is about five miles south of Matlock and about four miles north of Belper. Whatstandwell railway station is on the Derby–Matlock Derwent Valley Line, and the A6 trunk road crosses the River Derwent in the village. Most of the population is included in the civil parish of Crich but the village may be said to extend across the Derwent into the parish of Alderwasley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darley Dale</span> Human settlement in England

Darley Dale, formerly Darley, is a town and civil parish in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, with a population of 5,413. It lies north of Matlock, on the River Derwent and the A6 road. The town forms part of a built-up area with both Matlock and Rowsley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cromford</span> Village in Derbyshire, England

Cromford is a village and civil parish in Derbyshire, England, in the valley of the River Derwent between Wirksworth and Matlock. It is 17 miles (27 km) north of Derby, 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Matlock and 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Matlock Bath. It is first mentioned in the 11th-century Domesday Book as Crumforde, a berewick of Wirksworth, and this remained the case throughout the Middle Ages. The population at the 2011 Census was 1,433. It is principally known for its historical connection with Richard Arkwright and the nearby Cromford Mill, which he built outside the village in 1771. Cromford is in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heights of Abraham</span> Tourist attraction in Derbyshire, England

The Heights of Abraham is a tourist attraction in Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, England. It consists of a hilltop park on top of Masson Hill, accessed from the village by the Heights of Abraham cable car. The heights are named after a supposed resemblance to the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Heights of Abraham, in Quebec, Canada, where General James Wolfe died in battle against the French in 1759.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cromford Canal</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Cromford Canal ran 14.5 miles from Cromford to the Erewash Canal in Derbyshire, England with a branch to Pinxton. Built by William Jessop with the assistance of Benjamin Outram, its alignment included four tunnels and 14 locks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Derbyshire</span> History of the county in England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derwent Valley line</span> Railway line in Derbyshire, England

The Derwent Valley line is a railway line between Derby and Matlock in Derbyshire, England. It follows the Midland Main Line as far as Ambergate Junction, just south of Ambergate; it continues to Matlock, following the course of the River Derwent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cromford railway station</span> Railway station in Derbyshire, England

Cromford railway station serves the village of Cromford in Derbyshire, England. It is a stop on the Derwent Valley Line, which connects Derby with Matlock; it is located 15+1⁄2 miles (24.9 km) north of Derby. The station, which is Grade II listed, is owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whatstandwell railway station</span> Railway station in Derbyshire, England

Whatstandwell railway station serves the villages of Whatstandwell and Crich Carr in Derbyshire, England. It is a stop on the Derwent Valley Line, which runs between Derby and Matlock. The station is owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matlock railway station</span> Railway station in Derbyshire, England

Matlock railway station serves the Derbyshire Dales county town of Matlock, in Derbyshire, England. The station is the terminus of both the Derwent Valley Line from Derby and Peak Rail which operates heritage services to Rowsley South. Both lines are formed from portions of the Midland Railway's former main line to Manchester Central; through running is technically possible, but is not done in normal service. The station is owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ambergate railway station</span> Railway station in Derbyshire, England

Ambergate railway station serves the village of Ambergate in Derbyshire, England. It is located on the Derwent Valley Line, which connects Derby and Matlock; it diverges from the Midland Main Line just south of the station at Ambergate Junction. The station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction Railway</span> Railway in England

The Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction Railway ran from a junction with the Midland Railway at Ambergate to Rowsley north of Matlock and thence to Buxton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ambergate</span> Human settlement in England

Ambergate is a village in Derbyshire, England, situated where the River Amber joins the River Derwent. It is about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Matlock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riber</span> Human settlement in England

Riber is a hamlet in the civil parish of Matlock Town, in the Derbyshire Dales district, in the county of Derbyshire, England. It is situated high on a hill overlooking the town and also Matlock Bath, near to the residential Starkholmes area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derwent Valley Heritage Way</span> Long distance footpath in England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwood and Tinkersley</span> Civil parish in Derbyshire, England

Northwood and Tinkersley is a civil parish within the Derbyshire Dales district, in the county of Derbyshire, England. Named for its main settlements, with a mix of rural and built up areas, it had a population of 665 residents in 2011. The parish is 126 miles (203 km) north west of London, 18 miles (29 km) north west of the county city of Derby, and 3+1⁄2 miles (5.6 km) north west of the nearest market town of Matlock. Northwood and Tinkersley is directly adjacent to the Peak District national park to the west, and shares a border with the parishes of Darley Dale, Rowsley and Stanton.

References

  1. ↑ "Home". matlockbathparishcouncil.gov.uk.
  2. ↑ "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  3. ↑ About Derbyshire – Riber and Starkholmes Retrieved 2014-06-29
  4. 1 2 RA VIC/MAIN/QVJ (W) 23 October 1832 (Queen Victoria's handwriting). Retrieved 2013-05-24
  5. ↑ Peak District Information Retrieved 2014-07-07
  6. ↑ Heights of Abraham Retrieved 2014-07-07
  7. ↑ Mameluke Bath, Open Books, 2013 Retrieved 2015-02-10
  8. ↑ Return to Mameluke Bath Retrieved 2015-02-10
  9. ↑ Matlock Bath Parish Council homepage Retrieved 2015-03-03
  10. ↑ https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/high_tor_derbyshire-119/
  11. ↑ https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/pic_tor-1354/
  12. ↑ https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/willersley_castle_rocks-127/
  13. ↑ https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/wildcat-143/
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