In 1838 William Adam described entering the Dale from its southern entrance. Having passed Lady Glenorchy's chapel "on the rise of the hill to the left we come upon Mr. Milnes's offices, a group of cottages and a public house (lately built) and instantly the Mill comes into view to the right"^[1]. On the extreme left of the picture is the junction with South End.

This is one of two photographs, taken in the early twentieth century, of the buildings opposite Masson Mill (also see the next image). This picture shows the three stone built cottages of Fairview Terrace, next to them is Boston House and then is the Rutland Arms, described by Adam in his 1840 edition as "lately built"^[2]. Masson Terrace is a little further along Derby Road and some buildings within the Masson Mill complex can be seen on the right, although we can't see the Mill itself here.

The householder of No 3 Fairview Terrace is watching the cameraman; he is possibly Albert Morris^[3]. The Banner outside Boston House, that is fluttering in the breeze, is advertising Beds | Matlock Bath | Rest | [Unreadable word] | Teas.

The last owner occupiers of Boston House, or 100 Derby Road, were the Green family who had run the business for two generations. Their property was compulsorily purchased so the road could be widened and they left Matlock Bath in 1971. Paul Green recalls the Rutland Arms already being empty when they left.

The "lately built" Rutland Arms was to let in 1839 as its proprietor was retiring from business "for the present". "The House is well-constructed, contains eight bedrooms, three sitting-rooms, and a large dining-room ; one parlour, bar, and a brew-house well supplied with water. There is a coachhouse and good stabling ; a yard and garden, with five acres of capital Land adjoining the house. The Rutland Arms is in a good situation, and well-accustomed. ... immediate possession may be had"^[4]. We can see the large doors of the former coach house on the front of the building.

The next person at the Rutland Arms was Annis Hill^[2] who was followed almost immediately by Henry John Tijou^[5]; the last was Oswald Whittaker who left the pub when it, too, was demolished for road widening.

In Mr. Tijou's time a concert took place at the hostelry and "the principal performers belonged to his Grace the Duke of Devonshire's Buxton band^[6]". When, in 1860, the property was advertised to let by Mr Poyser, the Wirksworth auctioneer, he described it as an old established and well accustomed Inn and Posting House ... with Stables, Coach-houses, Outbuildings and Garden. Rent and valuation low. The Furniture, &c., may be taken at valuation if wished^[7]". Just a year later the Rutland Arms was again advertised for letting. "Mr William Pearson, the owner, retiring from the business^[8]". At the same time Mr. Pearson was selling "various lots on the Turnpike Road ... with views of the River Derwent and the Willersley Rocks^[8]".

There were quite a few landlords of the Rutland Arms in the years between Messrs. Pearson's and Whittaker's occupation of the premises. Several are listed in transcripts of trade directories and census returns that are elsewhere on this website.

Dr. Erasmus Darwin wrote several verses about Masson Mill. See Matlock & Matlock Bath: Inspiration of Poets.
The Rutland Arms is first mentioned in Hall's "Days in Derbyshire", 1863, Chapter the Fourth. Matlock Dale.
Both the Rutland Arms and the old bridleway leading up Harp Edge from South End are mentioned in Hall's "Days in Derbyshire", 1863, Chapter the Sixth. Via Gellia, Stonnus, and Fox Cloud.
See an advertisement for the Rutland Arms in Hall's "Day's in Derbyshire", 1863.

References (coloured links go to on site transcripts):

^[1] Adam, W. (1838) "The Gem of the Peak; or Matlock Bath and Its Vicinity. ..." London; Longman & Co., Paternoster Row ; ... Mawe, Royal Museum, Matlock ; .... This was the first edition of his guide.

^[2] A transcript of the second edition of Adam's book, published in 1840, is on this site. See Adam, W. (1840) "The Gem of the Peak". Annis Hill's name is mentioned in this edition. It is the only place found to date where Mr Hill was mentioned. Adam described the Rutland Arms as a public house.

^[3] See the 1901 census transcripts on this website.

^[4] "Derbyshire Courier", 7 December 1839. Rutland Arms Inn, Matlock Bath. To be Let, The Rutland Arms Inn and Posting Establishment. It was being let by Mr. W. Thorpe, its then owner (his name first appears in connection with the Inn in the "Derbyshire Courier" of 24 August 1839).

^[5] Henry Tijou is named in the 1841 census. Also see Pigot's Directory, 1842 | Bagshaw's 1846 Directory.

^[6] "The Derby Mercury", Wednesday, December 7, 1842.

^[7] "ibid.", Wednesday, April 4, 1860.

^[8] "ibid.", Wednesday, March 27, 1861.