Pigot and Co.'s National Commercial Directory, for 1828-9,
pub. London and Manchester, pp.139-140

MATLOCK, MATLOCK BATH, BONSALL, DARLEY AND NEIGHBOURHOODS.

MATLOCK village and parish, in the hundred of Wirksworth, is 144 miles from London, 42 from Manchester, 34 from Nottingham, 14 from Ashbourn, and rather more than 3 from Wirksworth. The village is most delightfully situated, partly in a valley and partly on the side of a hill, on the eastern banks of the river Derwent, and at a short distance from the main road: it is chiefly built of stone, and at its entrance is a neat stone bridge ; at some distance from which, On the verge of a most romantic rock, and upon a precipice almost perpendicular, stands the church, shrouded amidst trees, whose luxuriant foliage spreads over the face of the grey rock : the building is an ancient erection, with a square tower and arched roof, the interior of which is covered with paintings, taken from various scriptural subjects. In many parts of the church-yard the graves are cut out of the solid rock. The dean of Lincoln is patron of the living. Four fairs for cattle are held here in the year, viz. February 24th, April 2nd, May 9th, and October 25th. The population of the parish of Matlock, in 1821, was 2,920.

MATLOCK BATH, about a mile and a half s.s.w. from the village, is seated in a valley, amidst scenery of unparalleled grandeur and variety. The appendages of picturesque beauty are here so happily united that they cannot fail in raising those indescribable associations invariably attending a mind attuned to the contemplation of such sublime scenes; which to delineate, the powers and variations of the pencil must be employed, as alone adequate to the task; for

Expression's varied flowers are far too weak-
Let fancy paint what cannot speak :
View Abram's Heights, th' High Torr Lover's Path,
And hail elysium when at Matlock Bath.

To enter into a particular description of the petrifying well and of the various articles of fancy produced here and to do justice to the general interest, would form a little volume. An exhibition of the manufactures peculiar to this place, and a variety of other articles is established called "the Royal Museum," which is open free to the public, under the able and obliging conduct of Mr. John Mawe : a library and news' room have also lately been added. The principal bath is called the Fountain Bath, at the foot of the Heights of Abraham, and may be known by a fountain playing in the garden. There is a delightful sail up and down the river, for which purpose boats are kept, and may be frequently seen proudly gliding with a freight of beauty and fashion. There are two hotels, and numerous lodging houses, where every accommodation is afforded to the visiters resorting to this enchanting place. The diseases to which the Matlock waters are peculiarly salubrious are, glandular affections, rheumatism, obstructions from biliary concretions; and all those complaints that are promoted or increased by a relaxed state of the muscular powers. Amongst the natural curiosities are, lunar rainbows, which are not unfrequent here, Smedley cavern, &c. The eminences deserving attention are the High Torr, 350 feet above the level of the neighbouring country ; Masson hill, and the romantic cliff forming the boundary of the dale.

BONSALL is a considerable village, in a parish of the same name, about two miles from Cromford and four from Wirksworth, principally seated on a very high hill, where is the church, a neat plain building, in the same patronage as that of Matlock. In 1821 the number of inhabitants in the parish was 1,396.

DARLEY, a parish, partly in the hundred of Wirksworth and partly in the High Peak hundred, contains a small village, situated five miles from Matlock, in a rich and beautiful valley, upon the banks of the Derwent, and upon the road from Matlock to Bakewell. The church has a square tower, in which are five bells, and in the church-yard is a yew tree, an object of considerable attraction from its immense bulk, its thick foliage, and the great extent of its spreading limbs; it is surrounded by a stone bench, which at once serves as its protection, and a resting place for the traveller, who may seek shelter beneath its friendly shade, impervious alike to the "scorching noontide ray," or the "pelting of the pitiless storm." In 1821, 1,176 was the number of inhabitants in the parish.

POST OFFICE, MATLOCK, Saml. Hodgkinson, Post Master.-Letters to BAKEWELL- are despatched every afternoon at three, and arrive every morning about half-past five.-To WIRKSWORTH, every morning at half-past five, and arrive every afternoon at three.-MATLOCK BATH, Frances Shore, Post Mistress.- Letters to WIRKSWORTH are despatched every morning at half-past five, and arrive every afternoon at half-past two.-To BAKEWELL, every afternoon at half-past two, and arrive every morning at half-past five.-DARLEY, Sampson Roe, Post Master.-Letters to BAKEWELL are despatched every afternoon at three, and arrive every morning at five.-To WIRKSWORTH, every morning at five and arrive every afternoon at three.

NOBILITY, GENTRY AND CLERGY.
Broomhead Benjamin, gent. Darley
Darwin, Sir Francis, M.D. Darley
Gell Rev. Philip, Matlock
Gilbert Jonathan, esq. Matlock bath
Gisborne John, esq. Darley
Harding John, gent. Bonsall
Heathcote Arthur Heathcote, esq. Darley
Knowlton Thomas, esq. Darley
Lawrence Rev. Benjamin, Darley
Milnes James, gent. Darley
Potter Christr. Bower, esq. Darley
Radford Edward, esq. Matlock
Saxon Rev. Solomon Cadman, Darley
Sellers Henry, gent. Bonsall
Sim Rev. Henry, Bonsall
Twigg John, gent. Bonsall
Walthall Peter, esq. Darley
Ward Rev. Richard, Matlock bath
Woolley Mrs. Adam, Matlock bath

ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS.
Allen John, (gent's. brdg.) Bonsall
Barlow Jno. national school, Matlock
Frost Abraham, free grammar school, Bonsall
Potter Mrs. & Miss Todd, (ladies' boarding) Matlock
Saxon Misses, (ladies' boarding) Matlock

AGENTS, MINERAL.
Kirkland Richard, Bonsall
Twigg Isaac, Bonsall

ATTORNEYS.
Dakeyne John, Darley
Milnes John, Matlock bath

BAKERS, &c.
Boden James, Matlock
Lomas John, Matlock
Pearson Ann, Bonsall

BLACKSMITHS.
Halley George, Matlock
White George, Matlock

BLEACHERS.
Bennett Samuel, Lumsdale
Garton John, Lumsdale

BOOT & SHOE MAKERS.
Ballangton George, Matlock
Marshall George, Matlock bath
Rolley Wm. Matlock bath
Walker John, Matlock bath
Walker Richard, Bonsall

BUTCHERS.
Carlisle Joseph, jun. Stark'ems
Fletcher James, Matlock
Gaunt Wm. Matlock
Knowles Thane, Matlock
Reeves Joseph, Matlock
Sibery James, Matlock

CORN MILLERS.
Bown John, Matlock
Clay Robert, Bonsall
Higgott George, Matlock
Townsheud Isaac & Fredk. Darley

GROCERS, &c.
Abel James, Bonsall
Brailsford Sarah, Matlock
Carlisle Joseph, Stark'ems
Chadwick Robert, Bonsall
Dakeyne -, Darley
Fentem George, Matlock
Hodgkinson Mary and Sarah, Matlock bath
Hodgkinson Samuel, Matlock
Kirk Thos. Bonsall
Lees Anthony. Matlock
Pearson Ann, Bonsall
Skidmore John, Matlock bath

HATTERS.
Ballangton John, Matlock
Carlisle James, Matlock
Pearson Joseph, Matlock
Smith John, Matlock
Walker John, Stark'ems

HOTELS.
Matlock Bath Hotel, Thos. Robinson
New Bath Hotel, George Saxton, Matlock bath
Old Bath Hotel, Mary Cumming, Matlock bath

JOINERS.
Buxton John, Matlock bath
Ellis Wm. Matlock
Knowles Benjamin, Matlock
Robinson George, Matlock

LINEN DRAPERS.
Bown Sarah, Matlock
White Sarah, Matlock bath

LODGING HOUSES.
AT MATLOCK BATH.
Boden Joseph
Britland Joseph
Evans Hester
Pearson James
Rawlinson Jas.
Redfearn Geo.
Shore Frances
Smedley Peter
Smith Ellen
Tomison Joshua
Vallance John
Walker Richard

NEWS ROOM.
Mawe John, (and library) Matlock bath

PAPER MAKERS.
Cave -, Darley
Skidmore John, Matlock bath

PETRIFACTION WAREHOUSES
Bowden Joseph, Matlock bath
Buxton John, Matlock bath
Chadwick James, Matlock bath
Martin George, Matlock bath
Mawe John, (Royal Museum. for Derbyshire spar & black marble ornnaments, &c.) Matlock bath
Pearson Joseph, Matlock bath
Smedley John,. Matlock bath

SURGEONS.
Adams John, Matlock
Blunden Wm. Matlock bath
Chinery Wm. Matlock

TAILORS.
King John, Matlock
King Thos, Matlock
King Wm. Matlock bath

TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES.
Barley Mow, Thos Millward, Bonsall
Boat House, Jas. Fletcher, Matlock
Britannia, Thos. Worthy, Bonsall
Crispin, Sarah Milner, Darley
Crown, James Bown, Matlock
Duke William. Han. Wilson, Matlock
George and Dragon, Hannah Smethurst, Matlock
Goat's Head, Henrietta Flint, Darley
Horse & Jockey, Geo. Smith, Matlock
Horse Shoe, Wm. Barnes, Matlock
Horse Shoe, Saml. Cowley, Darley
King George, Wm. Gaunt, Matlock
King's Head, Jas. Abell, Bonsall
King's Head, Thomas Smedley, Matlock bath
Miner's Standard, Robt. Clayton, Bonsall
Nag's Head, John Pidcock, Darley
Pig of Lead, Wm. Peat, Bonsall
Plough, Wm. Allwood, Darley
Queen's Head Jas. Mather, Bonsall
Queen's Head, Anthony Walton, Matlock
Red Lion, George Moore, Matlock
Square and Compasses, James Carlisle, Matlock
Square and Compasses, Robert Clayton, Darley
Wheat Sheaf, Jane Lowe, Matlock

Miscellaneous.
Barnes Thos. twist doubler, Matlock
Dakeyne Jas. flax spinner, Darley
Gadsby Wm. Matlock bath
Godson Decimus, civil engineer, Matlock bath
Hackett John, tape manufacturer Lumsdale
Harvey Joseph, maltster, Matlock
Hepworth George, tallow chandler, Matlock
Marsden Samuel, saddler, Matlock
Moore Geo. lace manufactr. Matlock
Nuttall John and George, land surveyors, Matlock
Pearson -, straw hat mkr. Matlock
PUBLIC BATHS, hot, cold, vapour, & shower, Foot of the Heights of Abraham
Radford John & Sons, candle wick makers, Lumsdale
Rawlinson James, portrait painter, Matlock bath
Rickett John, tortoise shell comb maker, Bonsall
Smith George, nursery and seedsman, Matlock
Taylor Eliza, milliner, Matlock bath
Trickett Wm. wheelwright, Matlock

COACHES.
To MANCHESTER, the Lord Nelson (from Nottingham) passes every morning at half-past ten; goes through Darley, Bakewell, &c.-and to NOTTINGHAM, every day at half-past twelve, through Cromford, Belper and Derby.

CARRIERS.
To CHESTERFIELD, George Toplis, from Darley, twice a week, and Wm. Gregory, from the Red Lion, Matlock, every Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday.
To DERBY, John Brunsley, from Matlock, every Tuesday, and returns on Wednesday.
To MANCHESTER, John Pidcock, from Darley, through Bakewell, &c. every Tuesday morning, & returns every Fri.
To SHEFFIELD, John Brunsley, from Matlock, every Friday, and returns on Saturday.
To WIRKSWORTH, William Gregory, from the Red Lion, Matlock, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and George Toplis, from Darley, twice a week.