THE HIGH TOR, NEAR MATLOCK, DERBYSHIRE
Drawn by T. Allom
Engraved by J. W. Lowry
There was little development along the Dale opposite High Tor at this time, but what had been built was dwarfed by the Tor.
Smoke is curling out of the chimneys of Tor House (Tor Hill), Riversdale and Glena Cottage - the roadside property where
Remo Tinti ran his coal merchant's business in the 1950s and 60s (today, 2017, renamed as The Cables). Amongst the trees
on the opposite riverbank there is a brown building which would have belonged to what was to become the colour works. But the
semi detached properties with the stabling underneath, built at the bottom of the driveway to Tor House, had not yet been
constructed[1] (see link below).
Tor House was then the home of Thomas Robinson, a gentleman of independent means but who, like others in Matlock Bath,
took in lodgers[2]. In the 1851 census he was described as a retired innkeeper
as in the 1820s he had been associated with Hodgkinson's Hotel (see link below). He had by this time moved out of
Tor House and was living in one of the two semi-detached houses. He owned various properties in Matlock Dale and in
his Will, written on 31 May 1856, he mentioned "My messuage or dwellinghouse situate at Matlock aforesaid and
now in my own occupation with the garden outbuildings and appurtenances thereto belonging"[3].
Leacroft and Thomas Cave respectively[4]. Henry Sakeld James Collingwood[5] occupied,
or had sub-let, another messuage and farm lands belonging to Thomas Robinson but it is slightly unclear where this was.
We can just make our a small building tucked under the Tor. This would have been something to do with either the High Tor
Grotto or Mr. Boothman's wheel.
See: Matlock Bath: High Tor and the Colour Works
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The High Tor, near Matlock, Derbyshire. Published by Fisher, Son & Co., London and Paris. No date, but 1836 is the
most likely. Hand colouring of later date.
From the collection of and © Ann Andrews.
Information researched, written by and © Ann Andrews.
Intended for personal use only.
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References (coloured
links are to transcripts and information elsewhere on this web site):
[1] Although it looks to be in a
rather dilapidated state the coach house / stabling of this
building still exists, partly hidden under trees as you drive
through the Dale. The upper floors were affected by the 1966
landslip and were demolished.
[2] Thomas Robinson in shown in
the 1841 census |
the 1851 census | Matlock & Matlock
Bath Public Notices & Announcements, 1822.
He also appears in the following trade Directories: Glover's
1827-8-9 (Matlock Bath section) | Pigot's
1828-9 | Pigot's
1831 | Pigot's
1842 | Bagshaw's
1846 | Kelly's
1848 (gentry) | White's
1852 | Kelly's 1855.
[3] Pre-1858
Wills, Surnames R.
[4] Colonel Richard Leacroft was
at Tor House by 1851- see his
census entry. Mr. Cave and Col. Leacroft can both be
found in the 1861 census
[5] Henry Sakeld James Collingwood
lived at Tor Cottage. See Matlock
Dale : High Tor Guest House, 1945-50 and the
1841 census.
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