Henry Hadfield Cubley's picture of Matlock's Pic Tor was probably painted about 1900. The artist manages to capture the freshness and light of the riverbank scene on what was probably a spring day. The two figures in the middle distance are undoubtedly his daughters. He emphasises their presence by the small splash of red which he has used in quite a few of his pictures where two female figures are included.

Pic Tor was almost always known as Pig Tor during the nineteenth century^[1]. Ebenezer Rhodes used the name Pig Tor when writing about Matlock in 1824^[2]. However, Adam referred to the Tor as Horse Tor^[3] and Moore included it as part of Church Rocks^[4], although he later called it Pig-tree Tor^[5].

In the mid nineteenth century George Bradshaw commented that Derbyshire's rivers, the Wye, the Dewent and the Dove, "are perhaps the best for trout and grayling in the kingdom"^[6].

References (coloured links are to transcripts elsewhere on this web site):

^[1] The only reference to Pic Tor found by the webmistress in the nineteenth century was in a newspaper of 1887

^[2] Quote from Rhodes is included on the page Pic Tor, 1903-1905

^[3] Adam, W (1840) "The Gem of the Peak" London; Longman & Co., Paternoster Row, 2nd Edition See on site transcript

^[4] Moore, Henry (1818) 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", H. Moore, Drawing Master; Printed by T. Wilkinson, Ridgefield, Manchester See on site transcript, pp42-6

^[5] According to Benjamin Bryan, this was in Moore's "Stranger's Guide", 1833, p.36

^[6] "Bradshaw's Handbook for Tourists in Great Britain and Ireland ... Section Four ... Railways ... Midland", (1866) pub London (Adams) & Manchester (Bradshaw and Blacklock). This guide is now famous as the inspiration for the BBC TV series "Great British Railway Journeys" presented by Michael Portillo