| Matlock
Bath: Fluor Spar Cavern, Heights of Jacob |
| Matlock Bath : Twentieth Century Photographs,
Postcards, Engravings & Etchings |
| |
|
|
Here are two early twentieth century cards of the cavern on the Heights
of Jacob, one of the exterior and the other of the cavern itself.
In 1903 Benjamin Bryan wrote:
"There are other caverns now exhibited which have opened
out much more recently. One of these is situate by the side of
the road from Matlock Bath Station to Upper Wood, on a site known
as the "Heights of Jacob". From hence a wide spreading
prospect is available over the Pavilion grounds, which are immediately
below the spectator's feet, and extending to the rocks beyond
the river and northwards to the High Tor, with a large part of
the Bath visible as it lies in the hollow below. The features
of the cavern include spacious cavities or openings, grottoes,
spar archways, a "rising gallery", and veins of lead
ore and barytes. Mr. Jacob Raynes is the lessee"[1].
Mr. Jewitt, writing almost 70 years earlier in 1835, noted that "the
prospect ... from the mouth of the Fluor Cavern is one of great
interest, beauty and extent, in which the High Torr is a very
conspicuous object"[2].
Benjamin Froggatt of Upper Wood was the guide (see him in the
1841 census). The cavern was mentioned in Gem of the Peak in 1841[3] and
in 1866 Thomas Pearson was in charge here[4].
Mr. Raynes moved to Matlock Bath by 1871[5] and
he placed a series of advertisements in the local press the following
year (see below, left). He managed to introduce great drama and excitement
into the way he presented his cavern to potential visitors.
Derbyshire Times, 22 June
1872
THE ORIGINAL
FLOUR SPAR CAVERN,
On the road leading to the Upper Wood, and adjoining
the
ROMANTIC ROCKS,
MATLOCK BATH.
THE Original FLUOR SPAR CAVERN, by far
the most interesting in Matlock Bath,
consists of
SPACIOUS NATURAL CAVITIES OR OPENINGS !
MAGNIFICENT GROTTOS !
REMARKABLE SPAR ARCHWAYS !
Rising Gallery, Dungeon Rocks, Romantic Cave Scenery,
Veins of Lea Ore and Barytes, Thousands of Tons of
beautiful Fluor and Dog-tooth Spar, and many other
Minerals.
It also derives especial interest from the fact of
its being
the Retreat of the Families of the Neighbourhood in
the
year 1745, at which time the Pretender and his adherents
penetrated as far as Derby, and struck terror on the
in-
habitants of these parts, who took refuge in this
Cavern.
*** Open from 9 o'clock a.m.,
to 7 p.m, daily (Sundays
excepted).
The Roads to this Wonderful CAVERN are by the Station
Bridge, leaving the Heights to your right hand. This
road is the
easiest. The next is by Hodgkinson's Hotel, and the
third by Temple Terrace. Along which visitors must
bear
to the left hand. And note the direction boards " Free
Public Road."
The only ROYAL PETRIFYING WELL is on the High
Road leading to Cromford, and is the second well,
known as
"Jacob's Well." It was from this well that
her most
Gracious Majesty when a girl chose a bird's nest.
Articles Petrified on Reasonable Terms
Excursionists and School Contracted for.
No Fees are allowed to be asked for by the Guides.
REFRESHMENTS.
SOLE LESSEE : JACOB RAYNES. |
|
|
In the summer of 1883 rivalries between
the cavern guides in Matlock Bath spilled over and there were
threats, bad words and some violence. Disgraceful scenes
involved Daniel Bryan, who the owned the Devonshire Cavern,
and John Stockill, who worked as a guide for Mr. Raynes. Stockill
was fined for attacking Bryan, who did not fight back. Another
guide, named Hallam, had also threatened Bryan and was bound
over for a year and fines were issued. In turn Bryan was fined
for shaking a young lad who was also guide at the Fluor
Spar Cavern, although there was some provocation as the boy
interfered and was suspected of writing insults - so he too
was warned. Nobody came out of it well. One of the bench commented
that it was a great pity that such ill feeling existed[6].
On a more pleasant note the Heights of Jacob, as opposed
to the cavern, were mentioned in newspaper reports in the
mid 1880s when several large groups visited Matlock Bath[7].
Numerous familiar views of Matlock Bath that were featured
on postcards over the years were taken from the vantage point
of the Heights of Jacob. The name "Heights of Jacob" didn't
appear on maps until around 1900 by which time Jacob Raynes
had been the cavern proprietor in Matlock Bath for just over
thirty years[8],
but the Heights of Jacob were undoubtedly named after him.
It cannot be co-incidental. Nor can Jacob's Well in the
advert on the left; he wanted people to know who was in charge.
In the case of the Heights of Jacob, this area of Matlock
Bath is still known by his name and will undoubtedly be preserved
for posterity.
Jacob Raynes died at the end of 1904 and in 1907 Messrs.
Else & Son advertised the "FLUOR SPAR CAVERN, known
as the "Heights of Jacob", with sale shop" for
sale[9]. It was
bought by George Adam Craig[10],
who owned it for about 10 years. These photos date from the
time the Craigs were running the cavern; they are probably
the couple in the photo. Unfortunately, nothing more is known
about them. |
The signboard that is propped against the stone in the top image
advertises the "FLUOR SPAR CAVERN, HEIGHTS OF JACOB",
and lower down it mentions the Fluor Spar Grotto. Behind where the
lady is seated is a box with nine holes in it. Any ideas about what
the box was used for would be gratefully received - please email
the web mistress. Thoughts have included a box that people stuck
their heads through for a novelty photograph, but the holes don't
look big enough.
"There are few places where the loveliness of the view,
both in extent and in detail, is more apparent than from the
little platform outside the entrance to the celebrated Fluor
Spar Cavern with its interests geological and chemical. ...
a cursory inspection is made of the many pretty trifles carved
from the local minerals which are shown in a neat little shanty
by the proprietor of the mine and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. A.
G. Craig". There was Blue John in various shades, specimens
of fluor spar (calcium carbonate) and of the calcite or "dog
tooth" spar - called that because of the resemblance to
a dog's tooth. "One of the prettiest sights is the fluor
spar (calcium fluoride) seen in a bright light when the refraction
by each tiny crystal gives exquisite rainbow tints and an outline
of the whole clearly marked in the prismatic colours. Also of
interest was a piece of rock, a polished cube of about six inches,
on which was struck the Royal Charter in 1859"[11].
Below is the interior, lit by candles. The fluor spar and lead
ore would have glittered in the candle light. The man on the left
was possibly Mr. Craig whilst the man on the right could be Mr.
Henshall.
 |
"The cave is partly natural, partly artificial, having
been broken open, and in may places expanded, by the
lead miners of old times. It winds for many hundreds of yards
under the hill" and had one opening, closed by
1913, in the grounds of the Royal Hotel. The cavern is best
described as a series of lofty chambers "with roofs
of irregular masses of stone, in one instance a huge block
of many tons. At one time the cave was well worked
by the miners, and even now (1913) small pieces of lead are
seen interspersed amongst the crystals. Unlike
many caves, this has a pure atmosphere and an even temperature"[11]. |
The cavern was for sale once more in 1917:
"SMALL BUSINESS
for Disposal; Fluor Spar Cavern and Cottage attached. - Craig,
Heights Jacob, Matlock Bath"[12].
Thomas Meredith Henshall, who also a photographer[13],
was the proprietor after the first war, though he did not own
it. When "Jacob's Cavern" was next offered for
sale in 1923, this time by Bagshaw's of Ashbourne and Derby,
it was described as a "show place for trippers" and
somewhere that "the
owner would simply have to sit listening to the clicking
of the turnstile to gain a good living". At the time
Thomas Henshall was paying a rent of £6 and the Royal
Hotel also paid a guinea a year for the privilege of using
a road over it. Despite £180 being offered, the property
was not sold[14].
Mr. Henshall advertised in most of the trade
directories of the times. Under his tenancy the cavern was said
to contain "several spacious natural
cavities, grottoes and archways of beautiful flour and dogtooth
spar and veins of lead ore and barytes"[15].
The danger of using candles in the cavern as the main light
source for visitors was fully not realised until, in 1929, a
Derby Sunday School class pupil stumbled and fell down a 13
foot hole inside the cavern. The guide, who held out his arms
to tell the children to go no further, was unable to catch him.
The boy was rescued but later died at a Derby hospital[16].
The Henshall family diversified into market gardening and the
firm of Henshall and Sons entered exhibits into various flower
shows. They were at Chelsea in 1938, with a rock-garden display[17],
and were regular prizewinners at Southport[18]. |
|
This undated view is a very rare image |
|
1. "Heights of Jacob". No publisher. No date but the image was published
in several editions of the "Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal" in
July 1913 and on 2 January 1914. It was also published as a post card; more than one P.C. was psosted in 1908.
2. "Fluor Spar Cavern, Matlock Bath". No publisher. No date.
3. "Jacob's Cave - Matlock Bath". No publisher and unposted.
The initials W. A. S. are in the bottom right corner of the front face
of the card.
Postcards 1 and 2 in the collection of and provided by and © Ken
Smith.
Postcard 3 © Maureen Smith collection.
Images scanned for this website and information written, researched
by and © Ann Andrews.
Intended for personal use only.
|
References (coloured
links are to transcripts and information elsewhere on this web
site):
[1] Bryan, Benjamin (1903) "History
of Matlock - Matlock, Manor and Parish" London by Bemrose & Sons,
Limited. Bryan was comparing the "more recent" caverns
with those on the Heights of Abraham and the Cumberland Cavern,
all of which had been open to the public for many years.
[2] Jewitt, Arthur (1835) "The
Matlock Companion; and visitor's guide to the beauties of Matlock
..., including also a brief sketch of Buxton". Second
edition. Duffield, Derby
[3] The cavern was mentioned in Gem
of the Peak of 1840 although it does not say who the guide
was. Scroll down to petrifying wells and you can see who was
running the petrifying well where Princess Victoria purchased
her bird's nest and where it was.
[4] See "Holmes
Handbook, 1866", description of the Grand Fluor
Spar Cavern.
[5] Jacob Raynes
or Raines was listed as a cavern proprietor in Upper Wood in the
following : the 1871 census |
the 1881 census | 1891
census | 1901 | Kelly's
Directory 1895 | Kelly's Directory
1899.
[6] "Derbyshire
Courier", 15 September 1883. Disgraceful Proceedings
at Matlock. - Rival Guides.
Also "Derbyshire Times", 15 September 1883
[7] Reports in "The Derby Mercury".
[8] Ordnance Survey
Map (1903), pub H.M.S.O.
[9] "Derbyshire Advertiser and
Journal",17 May 1907.
[10] He advertised in Kelly's
Directory, 1908 and Kelly's
Directory, 1912 | Kelly's
1916 Directory. He had been in the Matlocks since 1904,
if not earlier.
[11] "Derbyshire Advertiser and
Journal", 25 July 1913. On the Heights at Matlock Bath.
[12] "Sheffield Daily Telegraph",
23 June 1917.
[13] Thomas Meredith Henshall advertised
as a photographer in Kelly's
1916 Directory but between 1922 and 1942 he advertised as
a cavern proprietor at the Heights of Jacob.
Mr. Henshall was born in Bulkeley, Cheshire and in 1901 he was
living in Salford and working as a photographer.
[14] "Derbyshire Times",
2 June 1923. Sale of local estate of Alderman H. A. Hubbersty of
Burbage Hall, Buxton. Both the Upper Wood Fluor Spar Mine, then
let to The Peak Mining and Mineral Co., and the fluor spar cave
known as "Jacob's Cavern" and land - let to T. M. Henshall
- were withdrawn from the sale. Advertised initially in the "Derbyshire
Advertiser and Journal" 12 May 1923.
[15] T. M. Henshall advertised in all
Kelly's Directories of Derbyshire between 1920 and 1941.
The quotation was extracted from the 1932 edition, although was
the same in every publication.
[16] "Nottingham Journal" 3 July 1929. Coroner's Comment on Derby Boy's
Sad Fate.
[17] "Derby Daily Telegraph", 26 May 1937. At Chelsea Flower Show.
[18] Reports of their successes at Southport appeared in the "Birmingham Daily
Post" of 23 August 1962 and the "Liverpool Echo", of 26 August 1964, for example. In
these years Henshall and Sons were winners of the first prize, with their rock gardens - in 1962 Derbyshire
limestone was a background for their display and they regularly used local sourced tufa stone.
|
|
