MATLOCK - HIGH TOR
Drawn by J. Smith
Engraved by S. Middiman
Published as the Act Directs Jany 21st, 1785 by S. Middiman,
London
The engraving of High Tor was from a drawing by John Smith, who was in Derbyshire about
1785[1]. It was published in "Select Views in Great
Britain" (1784-1792), a collection of topographical
art with engravings by Samuel Middiman (1750-1831)[2].
Middiman was a highly regarded engraver who produced engravings
from drawings by, amongst others, Joseph Wright of Derby. The
hand colouring is a later addition.
A small weir can be seen on the river bed. Whilst old engravings
don't necessarily give a totally accurate depiction it is probable
that the line of the wall and houses (bottom right) could have
been where the old road - now a footpath - comes down from
Starkholmes. David Palmer Pearson's articles, researched by
Colin Goodwyn, confirm that this is the weir he dated as 1769, based
on Barber and Goodwin's lease date[3],
and 'shows the outfall from the weir, and mine buildings.' Also
that 'the ruins of this weir are known to fishermen as Robinson's
Stream'. He also mentioned a later engraving by Farington
/ Byrne dated 1817 entitled 'South View of Matlock High Tor'
which shows 'the rim of the weir, then in a delapidated condition'[4].
 See the Farington /Byrne
print and Robinson's Stream in
the Government Art Collection.
J. P. Malcolm described High Torr
in a piece for The Gentleman's Magazine in 1793. This is transcribed
elsewhere on this site (p.44).
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