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 Sarah Dines of the Conservative Party.

Tourism

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 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]

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.

See also

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

Matlock Bath railway station is a Grade II listed railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Railway. It is located in the village of Matlock Bath in Derbyshire, England. The station is unmanned by rail staff and is located on the Derwent Valley Line, 16.25 miles (26.15 km) north of Derby towards Matlock.

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Matlock railway station is owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Railway; it serves the Derbyshire Dales town of Matlock, Derbyshire, England. The station is the terminus of both the Derwent Valley Line from Derby and Peak Rail who operate 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.

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

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heights of Abraham Cable Car</span>

The Heights of Abraham Cable Car is a gondola lift in the English county of Derbyshire. About 1/3 of a mile long, it links the spa town of Matlock Bath with the Heights of Abraham, a tourist attraction 554 feet (169 m) above. The line was built by Poma and opened in spring of 1984. The cable cars were upgraded in 2004, making them larger and more accessible, to 12 x six-seater cabins, which operate in four trains of three cabins each. An example of the smaller 1984 cabin can be seen displayed at the base station

<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
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