"The High Tor" is a high quality Carte de Visite, taken
by the Petschlers, of the railway embankment between Matlock
Bath Station and the High Tor Tunnel. The scene also includes a view
of the River Derwent and the Gas works on the far side of the track.
The bridge under the track led to the Gas works entrance. It was
accessed by a road from the railway bridge, raised up from the river,
that ran along the bottom of the embankment.
In 1852 a public meeting was held in Matlock Bath to discuss, amongst
other things, "the propriety of lighting Matlock Bath and its
vicinity with gas"[1].
Matlock Gas Light and Coke Company was formed the following year
and, at the end of 1853, considerable progress had been made.
"Mr. George Edward Peters, of Peterborough, is the contractor
for the entire gas works, which, for the short time they have
been commenced, are progressing satisfactorily. The site for
the necessary buildings and apparatus was kindly granted by
P. Arkwright, Esq., on a plot of ground near the Matlock Bath
railway station, and a five minutes walk out of the village,
and nearly out of site of the main road, so that no scenery
will be interfered with, or any annoyance experienced[2].
More shares were raised in 1857; a meeting in May of that year
was held at the Queen's Head when almost 100 shares were raised
in the room, despite the meeting having been called rather early
in the evening[3].
Enlargement showing the early Gas works buildings
 Lists
Through the Centuries: The Nineteenth Century: Return of Owners
of Land 1873 - Derbyshire (scroll down to Gas Company)
The Gas Works Manager can be found
in White's 1857 Directory and White's
1862 Directory.
Mr. Petschler also took a
stereoview of Holy Trinity Church.
High
Tor, Matlock Bath, a postcard from 1906 or before, is in the "Just" Images
section.
So who were the Petschlers?
Helmuth Petschler was a German born merchant who settled in
the Manchester area, marrying Alice Hadfield Bennett at Glossop
in 1854. He began taking photographs after his first business
failed and images such as this one were by H. Petschler & Co.
According to another photograph, held by TNA, their Manchester
Photographic Company Limited was established in 1865 although
later pictures also bore labels stating they were by H. Petschler & Co.
It is likely the couple used the train to travel to the places
they photographed. Sadly, their business was shortlived as Helmuth
was buried at Bowdon, CHS on 14 Oct 1869. Alice seems to have
kept on the business for a couple more years as she was described
as a photographer in the 1871 census[4].
She had an extremely difficult time for a few years, through
no fault of her own, following her husband's early death. However,
their legacy is the fine body of photographic work that has survived.
View even more about the station by clicking on the images below:
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The High Tor, near Matlock Bath. A Carte de Visite published
by H. Petschler & Co., 84 Market Street, Manchester. Photographic
Printers & Publishers, No.361.
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] "Derby Mercury", 18
August 1852. Projected Improvements at Matlock Bath.
[2] "Derbyshire Courier",
17 December 1853. Gas at Matlock.
[3] Reported in both the "Derby
Mercury",
13 May 1857 and the "Derbyshire
Courier",
16 May 1857. Matlock Bath New Gas Company.
[4] The information was printed on the
reverse of 2452/45a. Further information about
the Petschlers comes from parish registers and census returns.
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