The most famous view in Matlock. "There is hardly a more charming peep in England when, immediately on emerging from the Bulstree tunnel, the train pulls up for a moment at Matlock Bath Station before taking its plunge through the recesses of High Tor, The hill rises sharply on the r[ight], but on the l[eft] the Derwent flows through an amphitheatrical gorge, with precipitous sides; the one clothed with trees from water's edge to sky line; the other towering upwards in craggy peak and leafy coronal, and lined and dotted with terraces and villas of pleasant aspect, half embosomed in leafage, and fitting their surroundings as if natural structural selection had brought about in very deed a survival of the fittest.^[1] "

Undated. The caption on this card reads: Matlock Bath, The English Switzerland, Midland Route, Liverpool, Manchester and London. (A Midland Railway card)
All six cards in this series are the same as none were posted.

There are more Images of Matlock & Matlock Bath and High Tor elsewhere on this web site. This card is also repeated in the Matlock Dale section.

"The name is pronounced in one syllable, Eem'. Should the tourist ask for 'Iam', he will be misunderstood, and runs a risk of being directed to one or other of the 'Highams' This is a lead mining centre. When the church of St. Helen (register 1636) was 'restored' several interesting details were swept away^[1]."

Depicted on the card are the cottages where the Plague of 1666 first arrived in the village in a bundle of clothes sent from London. Also shown is Eyam's Ancient Stone Cross and there is an inset picture of the church, in the chancel of which is Mrs. Mompesson's Tomb. Her husband, the local vicar, persuaded the villagers to try to stop the plague spreading further, so they isolated themselves from the world. It is a story of incredible bravery and terrible tragedy.

Despite this, Pigot's first directory recorded that "nothing of consequence attaches itself to this village!" In the census return taken not long before there were 1,546 inhabitants here^[2].

The caption on this card reads: Historic Eyam Scene of the Great 17th Century Plague, Midland Route, Liverpool, Manchester and London. (A Midland Railway card).

There is more about Eyam on this web site (return to the Derbyshire Index).

The Dale, showing the arched railway viaduct which crossed the River Wye in the valley below, from Monsal Head.

"A good place to alight for a roughish climb over High Field to Taddington, about 3m. Cressbrook is only 1m.—a lovely dale, almost a glen. Through two more tunnels, with tantalising glimpses of romantic scenery intervening (which render it advisable that a sharp look-out should be kept, particularly on the right), and then we reach Miller's Dale^[1]."

"The Wye on the west flows through Monsal Dale, a fine view of which is obtained from Edge Stone head, where the Wye is seen rolling its silvery waters from the north, here and there shaded by the ash trees, until passing beneath a rustic bridge, it soon turns westward, winding round a bold promontory, is lost to view in this direction" (White's, 1862^[3]).

"Monsal Dale may with peculiar propriety be termed the Arcadia of Derbyshire" (Black, 1884^[4]).

The caption on this card reads: Monsal Dale, Midland Route, Liverpool, Manchester and London. (A Midland Railway card)

See more images about Monsal. Return to the Derbyshire Index.

The market town of Bakewell, with the ancient church in the centre, is in the High Peak. "This delightfully seated town is nearly ½m. from the station. (Pop. 2,502. Hotels: Rutland Arms, special facilities for fishing, Castle, Devonshire Arms. Bakewell has been a market town since 1330, but possesses few traces of antiquity save the church of All Saints'—(reg 1614)—.".^[1] The parish church stands on an eminence, and was built in the form of a cross. It has an octagonal tower, surmounted by a lofty spire.

The town is seen from the opposite bank of the River Wye here. An early directory describes Bakewell as "an ancient town, situated at the foot of a hill, on the western banks of the river Wye; which stream abounds with trout and other fish, affording ample reward to the patience of the angler" ...^[2].

The caption on this card reads:
Bakewell. Midland Route, Liverpool, Manchester and London. (A Midland Railway card)

View more Bakewell images (return to the Derbyshire Index).

The caption on this card reads: Buxton Capital of the Peak of Derbyshire, Midland Route, Liverpool, Manchester and London. (A Midland Railway card) Looking towards the Church from the River. The Crescent was erected by the Duke of Devonshire and building work began in 1780, with John Carr of York as the architect. The building cost £120,000.

"The Crescent consists of a curve of 200 feet, with wings 58 feet, and consists of 380 windows" (Black, 1884^[4])

Before this, Rhodes, who was never one to mince his words, had written that "'the mound in front of the Crescent is no longer a lump of deformity; the genius of Wyatt has converted it into an object of beauty : all that taste and judgement could possibly effect has been done, and a series of beautiful promenades and verdant slopes now covers this once unmeaning hill"^[5].

Worth later added that "the famous health resort of Buxton is reached viâ the Midland by a short branch from Millers Dale, which way fairly claim to be one of the prettiest bits of railway travelling in the kingdom. ... The London and North-Western Railway also connects with Buxton from Manchester viâ Whaley Bridge and Chapel-en-le-Frith. The two stations stand side by side".^[1].

Picture Gallery : The Crescent, Buxton, 1840. Lithograph, with accompanying text, from William Adam's "The Gem of the Peak".
This is just one of 4 pages about Buxton.

The caption on this card reads: 'Castle of "Peveril of the Peak" Shewing Entrance to Cavern', Midland Route, Liverpool, Manchester and London. (A Midland Railway card).

"Castleton ... is situated at the bottom of the steep eminence at whose feet the Peak Cavern discloses itself, and whose summit is occupied by and ancient castle that gives name to the place^[2].". Both the cavern and the Castle can be seen on the post card.

Writing in 1824 Rhodes stated that 'the family of the Peverils are said to have resided here, and nor without pomp and splendour'. He goes on to visit 'Peak's Hole, one of the most striking and sublime objects in the mountainous districts of Derbyshire'^[5].

In 1890 Worth added that the village was reached "through leafy lanes, recalling Devonshire ... no more than a village in size (Pop.620), but with a singularly town-like look for all that. It is curiously situated, at the very head of the vale of Hope, so that the hills sweep around it on three sides like a huge green wall^[1]."

Also see:
Castleton, Peak Cavern.
Castleton, The Winnats and Speedwell Cavern.

Other railway cards, not part of this collection, are:
Chatsworth House, Tapestry Room.

Wingfield Manor (2), during and after the Civil War.

References and notes:

^[1] R. N. Worth, F.G.S., (1890) "Tourist's Guide to Derbyshire", Edward Stanford, 26 & 27, Cockspur Street, Charing Cross

^[2] Pigot & Co, 1821-2

^[3] "Directory & Topography of the Borough of Sheffield, with all the Towns, Parishes, Villages and Hamlets within a circuit of Twenty Miles," ...(1862), Francis White & Co., Sheffield

^[4] "Black's Tourist Guide to Derbyshire" (1888) pub. Adam and Charles Black Edinburgh.

^[5] Rhodes, Ebenezer (1824) "Peak Scenery" pub. London, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, Paternoster Row.

Elsewhere on this website:
The Gentleman's Magazine Library - more about Bakewell, Buxton and Matlock
Derbyshire's Parishes, 1811 for more on the parishes
Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire, 1891 has transcripts of the smaller places from this 1891 directory
The Railways of Derbyshire, 1903 - a map
Matlock and Matlock Bath : The last Station Master for more on the Midland Railway.