Everything about Matlock Derbyshire totally explained
» For other uses, see Matlock (disambiguation).
Matlock is the
county town of
Derbyshire,
England. It is situated at the south eastern edge of the
Peak District, and is twinned with the French town
Eaubonne.
Matlock Bath lies immediately south of the town on the
A6. Matlock is nine miles south west of
Chesterfield, surrounded by the cities of
Derby (19 miles),
Sheffield (20 miles) and
Nottingham (29 Miles). The A6 road continues to the Metropolitan areas of
Stockport (30 miles) and
Manchester (45 miles away). Although officially occupying a central England position geographically, Matlock is in the west of Derbyshire in what is known as the
Derbyshire Dales which includes the towns of
Wirksworth and
Bakewell. Industry in the area is now relatively low since the decline of the mill industry and job opportunities are quite poor apart from tourism and administration jobs. Many now travel to Chesterfield and the
South Yorkshire conurbation for work. In 2005, the Government paper
The Northern Way suggested to include Matlock into a newly formed
Sheffield City Region which ultimately mean the redesign of regional and county councils. However to date there's no set time agenda for this to happen.
History
A former
spa town, Matlock lies on the
River Derwent, and has prospered from both the
hydrotherapy industry and the
mills constructed on the river. It was an unimportant collection of small villages — Matlock Town,
Matlock Green,
Matlock Bridge,
Matlock Bank — until
thermal springs were discovered in
1698. The
population increased rapidly in the
1800s, largely due to hugely popular
hydros being built. At one stage there were around twenty hydros, most on Matlock Bank. The largest was built in
1853 by
John Smedley. This closed in the
1950s, when it became home to
Derbyshire County Council. Matlock is also home to the
Derbyshire Dales District Council as well as Matlock
Town Council.
The town centre development
For many years, the council had proposed to allow a Sainsbury's supermarket to be built in
Cawdor Quarry, a disused quarry next to the railway station. In late spring 2007 building work started, and it was opened on Thursday 4th October 2007. The access road for the supermarket forms part of a new one way system, whereby the
A6 bypasses the town centre. A footbridge from the railway station allows pedestrian access to the supermarket from the town centre. A newly built bus station next to the train station is intended to create an integrated transport terminal.. However, several bus routes will continue to serve only the old Bus Station on Bakewell Road, making Matlock one of the smallest towns in Britain to boast two bus stations.
Transportation
Bank Road Tram
In
1893,
Matlock Cable Tramway, a
cable tramway was built up
Bank Road from
Crown Square at Matlock Bridge to Wellington Street (at the top of
Bank Road) with a stop half way up at Smedley Street where Smedley's Hydro (built by
John Smedley) was situated. Conceived by Job Smith, the tram was inspired by
San Francisco's famous cable cars, and cost £20,000. When it was built it was the steepest tramway in the world at a
gradient of 1 in 5½, and it rose 300
feet. The
fare was tuppence up, penny down. It closed in
1927 after losing business to
cars and
buses.
Railways
Matlock railway station was opened on the
Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway, later the
Midland, line between
London and
Manchester, until the section between Matlock and
Buxton was closed in
1968 during the
Beeching Axe. Network Rail considered re-opening the line, with a study carried out by the county council. Although it proved to be unfeasible in the shorterm, the track bed will be kept free of development as the study showed that the line could be economically viable from around 2025. The section from Wye Dale (about 3 miles east of Buxton) to Coombs viaduct, a point about a mile south-east of Bakewell, has now become the
Monsal Trail, an 8.5 mile walk and cycle trail.
Trains still run between Matlock and
Derby on the
Derwent Valley Line.
Peak Rail, a
preserved railway, runs
steam trains on a section of the closed line between Matlock,
Darley Dale and
Rowsley. It is hoped that in the future
Peak Rail will be able to share the mainline station – it currently has its own station,
Matlock Riverside, a short distance to the north.
Hall Leys Park
The tram shelter from Crown Square is now in
Hall Leys Park, a large
Victorian park next to the
River Derwent which opened in
1898. The park boasts a miniature railway, bandstand and a boating pond, with the oldest running powered boats in Britain, for many years, as well as
tennis courts and a
war memorial. There is an ongoing project to update and upgrade all the parks in the Matlock area - Hall Leys Park was the first to benefit from this and the children's play area has been greatly modernised. There has also been a
skateboard park added replacing
grass tennis courts. The park hosts the Matlock Victorian Christmas Weekend on the first weekend of December.
Bank Road
Bank road runs from
Crown Square up
Matlock Bank, a steep
hill which gives the road its name, to Wellington Street. Although many consider the whole incline to be Bank Road, just over half-way up beyond Smedley Street the road is called Rutland Street.
Bank Road has many local landmark buildings along it - from the bottom of the hill (Crown Square) travelling north:
NB. Beyond Smedley Street Bank Road is actually Rutland Street.
The Old Tram Depot which is now a garage and car repair centre.
Rockside Hydro an imposing building with views across Matlock, now converted into flats.
Sport
Matlock is home to Matlock Town Football Club, known as 'The Gladiators'. They are currently in the Unibond Premier League and play home matches at their Causeway Lane ground, now known as the Geoquip Stadium.
Matlock is also home to Matlock Cricket Club who also play their games next to the football ground.
Matlock has a regular rugby team who play their home matches at nearby Cromford Meadows. They run 3 senior teams and the 1st XV compete at Level 6 in the RFU league structure. Matlock Rugby Club also has a thriving mini's and junior section with over 250 members all supported by fully qualified mini and junior coaches. In 2007 the club was awarded the Derbyshire Tigger Price Memorial trophy for the team of the year award
Education and the Arts
Matlock has a growing reputation for the creative and performing arts which was enhanced in 2004 when the annual arts festival Matlock Live! began. It takes place in June or July each year featuring local musicians, dancers, artists, etc. The local secondary school, Highfields School, achieved status as a Performing Arts College due to its connections with Matlock Live!
Matlock on film and television
Coming Down the Mountain, The BBC drama was set partly in Matlock although nothing was filmed there.
Women in Love, Ken Russell's Oscar winning 1969 film, uses a house at the top of New Street (No. 80) as the home of the Brangwen sisters, Gudrun and Ursula. The house is currently a B&B.
Peak Practice, the ITV series, used locations in Matlock, including Highfields Secondary School, Victoria Hall Gardens and Henry Avenue, although the main village location is Crich and nearby Fritchley.
Dead Man's Shoes, the 2004 film by Shane Meadows, was filmed in and around Matlock.
In Denial of Murder, 2005 BBC dramatisation of Matlock Mercury editor Don Hale's campaign to free Stephen Downing.
Jane Eyre, 2006 BBC Adaptation of the Charlotte Brontë novel was filmed at the Haddon Hall and the countryside nearby.
Youth Hostels
The Youth Hostels Association has its national headquarters on Dimple Road, Matlock. Despite the close proximity of the HQ, the YHA announced in 2005 that they'd be closing down the Matlock Hostel which is situated on Bank Road.
Famous Residents
Simon Groom, the DJ and former Blue Peter presenter.
Geoff Hinsliff, actor who played Don Brennan in Coronation Street
George Newnes, MP, publisher of the Strand Magazine was born here in 1851
Paddy Considine, actor who played Richard in the movie, filmed in and around Matlock in 2004, *Dead Man's Shoes
Isy Suttie, British comedian
Philip Whitehead, MP, MEP, Author and Emmy award winning Producer was born here
Ben Ottewell, from the band Gomez
Sam Genders, from the band Tunng
Rhythm plate, Music production duo consisting of Matt Rhythm and Ant Plate
Further Information
Get more info on 'Matlock Derbyshire'.
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