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Moore: "Picturesque Excursions From Derby to Matlock Bath, 1818"*
Eighteenth and nineteenth century tour guides about Matlock Bath and Matlock
 



Moore's Guide was written when King George III was on the throne and his son, who later became George IV, was Prince Regent.

Henry Moore was an author, painter and etcher of Green Lane in Derby. He invented "a method of engraving or etching in white line on the surface of polished black marble".** This extract about Matlock and Matlock Bath, from his book "Picturesque Excursions", contains a selection of his lovely etchings.


CONTENTS
green button pp.20-27 - TO WILLERSLEY CASTLE, AND THROUGH MATLOCK DALE.
With etching of " Matlock Church"
green button pp.27-32 - With engraving's of "The Dungeon Tors" and "Romantic Bridge Rutland Cavern"
green button pp.32-36 - With etching "View Opposite the Museum"
green button pp.36-41 - With etching "View From Mason"
green button pp.42-46 - With etching "The High Tor"
green button pp.47-51 - Matlock Water (Pilkington)
green button pp.52-56 - Minerals
green button pp.57-63 - Excursion
To THE HIRST STONES, CAWDOR TORS, VILLAGE OF MATLOCK, RIBER HILL, CASCADE, AND CROMFORD BRIDGE.
And Excursion [first page only] TO STAINEDGE, SLACK, ...


Title-page of Picturesque Excursions With images drawn and etched by H. Moore
 

A Royal Visitor used Moore's book.

Morning Chronicle, 29 July 1818
An extract from an article:
"The Grand Duke Michael's Tour".

"On arriving at Matlock, his Imperial Highness and Suite having provided themselves with the new publication Picturesque Excursions in the Vicinity of Matlock, by Moore. They immediately went to the Grand Rutland Cavern, where they remained exploring the interior, with which they were highly gratified ; for this excursion every poney was put in requisition, and his Imperial Highness and Suite ascending the heights of Abraham, by the new zig-zag walk, forming a group as extraordinary as novel, replete with drollery and good humour. So gratified was he with the cave scenery, that he could not be prevailed to visit any of the inferior caverns, exclaiming, "I shall never forget the Grand Rutland Cavern". His Imperial Highness visited the Museum and on being informed it was patronized by his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, he condescendingly bestowed many eulogians on the establishment, and bought a variety of vases, &c. - he then walked, and took the waters at the New Fountain, and proceeded on horseback to Chatsworth to dine".



Quotes about the Via Gellia,
which Moore walked through on his excursions,
can be found on:


Pig of Lead (2)

Via Gellia


View opposite the Museum
"Picturesque Excursions"
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*Transcribed by Ann Andrews in March 2004 from:
"Picturesque Excursions From Derby to Matlock Bath, and its Vicinity ; Being a Descriptive Guide to the Most Interesting Scenery and Curiosities in that Romantic District, With Observations Thereon", by Henry Moore (1818), published by H. Moore, Drawing Master; Printed by T. Wilkinson, Ridgefield, Manchester.
Reproduced here with the very kind permission and help of Jane Steer, whose book this is from. OCRed and images scanned by Ann Andrews

**Quoted from Alfred Wallis, "Some Reminiscences of Old Derby, No.25", 1909. DLSL, Ba 900 [8982] in Jane Steer's article "The Site of the Hospital of St. Helen's in the 19th Century; Part 1. The Spar Manufactory", p.158. This was published in 'Derbyshire Miscellany' (the Local History Bulletin of the Derbyshire Archaeological Society), Vol 16, Part 6, Autumn 2003. The Spar Manufactory was on King Street/St Helen's Street, Derby and Henry Moore developed the method of etching for its eminent proprietors, Richard Brown senior and junior.
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