NAMHO 2009
MATLOCK
The Venue
A Brief History of
the Matlocks
Both Matlock
and what is now Matlock Bath would have originally come under the same
name. Lead mining, quarrying and later spar
mining, were important means to extra income for agricultural workers in the
area. Matlock did not really become the large settlement it is today until the
hydro opened in the 1850s.
The name Matlock Bath, originates from ‘the Matlock
bath’, a small bath that opened to exploit the local thermal water in 1698. The
New Bath opened in 1745 and another followed in 1786. There was other
entertainment to attract visitors, such as concerts, billiards and bowls and
the Lovers Walks. Numerous show caverns made use of the lead mines that
honey-combed the gorge. Middle class visitors, including the likes of Lord
Byron, would stay in the villas and hotels that built up on the hillsides,
until the railway was extended from Ambergate to Matlock in 1849, bringing a new
type of visitor: the day tripper. The Derwent Gardens, High Tor Grounds,
successive pavilions and other attractions were a response to their needs. A
tradition of spar and marble turning grew in the village, as the Victorian
tourists demanded souvenirs [Ref.
The Arkwright Society Matlock Bath
Trail 1997].
County Hall, Matlock
County Hall in Matlock, where Saturday’s lectures will be
held, is currently used as offices by Derbyshire County Council, but formally
had a much more fascinating use. John Smedley, who owned a textile factory at
Lea Mills, decided to exploit the pure waters of Matlock and bought a small
building in which to treat his staff with hydro-therapy in 1853. The building
soon proved inadequate and Smedley had the hotel built, that can still be seen
today. Smedley’s Hydro offered numerous, weird and wonderful water treatments
that were thought to be beneficial for the health, including the shocking
‘ascending douche’ and the cocoon of wet sheets. At its height, the hydro was
catering for up to 2000 patients a year, who were personally supervised by
Smedley, and some of whom perhaps still visit the hotel! [Ref: J. Bunting Matlock and Matlock Bath 2002].
The
Pavilion, Matlock Bath
The Pavilion, which now houses the Peak District Mining
Museum, as well as other facilities, was built in 1910 as the Kursal. This
German name was dropped during the First World War, for obvious reasons, during
which the Pump Room was used as a cafeteria for troops. This part of the
building also contained a drinking fountain, making the thermal water available
to tourists. The fountain has been restored to the Pump Room in the last year,
but unfortunately water is unsuitable for drinking. The rest of the building
was intended for entertainment purposes, hosting tea-dances, a cinema and a
library at various times. The Mining Museum moved in during 1978, the Water
Pressure Engine being the main attraction. The collection has gradually built
up and with the help from numerous hard-working volunteers, the museum has never
looked back.
Last updated 20th March 2009