Two high quality stereoviews taken by the first two photographers in the Matlocks. John Latham lived, for most of the time he was in the
district, on Tagg Hill. Matlock Bath's first resident photographer, John Clarke, lived on South Parade. Both men must have been standing
above Fish Pond Hill, outside the entrance to the Old Bath/Royal Hotel, to take their pictures.
1. John Latham's stereoview, above and below
A site had been cleared on the right in readiness for Boden's large restaurant to be built and rubble or building materials filled the
forecourt of the Old Bath Tap, later the Fish Pond Hotel, on the left. One man was working beside this.
Messrs. Smedley and Ogden's Great Petrifying Well had been built on the opposite side of the road, next to Buxton's Museum, and seems to have been
in the process of being fitted out as there were a number of workmen sitting on the pavement near the awning, one of whom seems to be painting signs.
The Well had been constructed on freehold land owned by Mr. Francis Brown, later Mayor of Chesterfield whose ownership was later disputed.
At a hearing in 1881 Brown stated that there had been a low fence when the ground was alloted that he'd insisted that the building's frontage
should be pushed back two feet to allow for the awning's overhang. This was clearly true as the original boundary can be seen a little closer
to the camera (it was behind the edge of the tree). The petrifying well and the restaurant that was soon to be built were approximately
two feet behind it[1].
Also see:
 Matlock Bath: Mr. Buxton's Royal Museum & the Great Petrifying Well.
The right hand side of Latham's stereo, enlarged.
2. John Clarke's stereoview was taken slightly later.
Clarke's studio was on the right of South Parade, past the Buxton's Royal Museum. The Museum is the building with a display in the side window. Next
to it, towards the camera, was Boden's Restaurant. The former Fishpond Stables were mostly hidden by the large horse chestnut tree. A low stone wall
borders the fish pond, which can also be seen on the Latham stereo..
At the bottom of the hill immediately below the camera is a man with a horse and cart which is stacked
with wicker baskets, possibly selling vegetables. There appears to be a customer standing next to him. The Fishpond Hotel
was on his left and several carriages are standing in the hotel's forecourt. There is a pony and trap a little further
along the road.
On the hillside above are several large villas, including Guilderoy, Masson Cottage and Belle Vue with the Lower Towers
at the junction of Masson and Holme Roads. Higher up is the Upper Towers with the Victoria Tower on top of the hill.
On the corner of Waterloo Square and West Bank, looking down The Pitchings, is a building with a large brick wall
frontage which has a sign -- -- | Tea Rooms | Warehouse. This was later the Hillside Cafe.
One of Clarke's stereoview images, enlarged.
We can see the wider pavement in front of the Great Petrifying Well and the newly built Boden's restaurant,
mentioned in a court case on Mr. Buxton's Royal Museum & the Great Petrifying Well.
The pond appears to be next to the restaurant wall.
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