Everything about Matlock Bath totally explained
Matlock Bath is a
village south of
Matlock in
Derbyshire,
England. Built along the
River Derwent, it developed, in the 1800s, as a
spa town and still thrives on
tourism. It is often said that Matlock Bath is like a
seaside town without the sea due to the number of
fish and chip shops and
amusement arcades.
History
In
1698, warm springs were discovered and a Bath House was built. As the waters became more famous, access was improved by the building of the bridge into
Old Matlock and in
1783, the opening of a new entrance at the south of the valley. Princess Victoria's royal visit in
1831 confirmed Matlock as a society venue of the time.
Ruskin loved it, and
Lord Byron confirmed its romantic character, comparing it with alpine Switzerland, hence its nickname
Little Switzerland. When the
North Midland Railway opened in
1840, carriages plied for hire from
Ambergate station. The
Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway ran a number of excursions, taking the passengers onward from Ambergate by the
Cromford Canal. Matlock Bath is now a designated conservation area with an Article 4 Direction in relation to properties, predominantly along North and South Parade.
Visitor attractions
Attractions in the village include the
Heights of Abraham which is a self contained park on top of a hill of the same name. The park contains a former
mine which is open to the public and a cliffside cafe. On the opposite bank of the river Derwent, stands
High Tor, a sheer cliff which is very popular with climbers and walkers alike. High Tor features Giddy Edge, a narrow winding path along the cliff edge. The
cable cars are close to the base of High Tor and serve the Heights of Abraham. Also in Matlock Bath are
Gulliver's Kingdom theme park, the
Derbyshire Mining Museum, the
Life in a Lens Museum of Photography & Old Times, a
petrifying well and an
aquarium. The notable presence of amusements and museums are a strong tourist draw, and they live quite happily side by side, because the conservation area guidelines keep control of any excessive promotional activity, while allowing it to prosper along with the historical and scenic side that has made Matlock Bath so worth visiting. In autumn of each year, the "Venetian Nights" are held with illuminations along the river and illuminated boats, attracting thousands of visitors
Bikers
Matlock Bath is well-known as a meeting place for
motorcyclists who flock to the village at
weekends and
bank holidays.
StreetSafari gathering
Every March, participants in StreetSafari European banger rallies meet in the Midland Hotel, North Parade, Matlock Bath for their annual "north of England" meet-up. The "south of England" meet-up is held in Covent Garden, London. The last Matlock Bath gathering was held on Saturday 15th March 2008.
Railways
Matlock Bath railway station was built in
1849 on the
Midland Railway line between
London and
Manchester: the section from Matlock to
Buxton was closed in
1968, during the
Beeching Axe. Trains still run between Matlock Bath and
Derby on the
Derwent Valley Line.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Matlock Bath'.
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