These charming images are from a booklet about what to do in and around Matlock Bath. It was printed for Mr. Bertram Clulow^[1], then manager of the New Bath Hotel, by Sir Joseph Causton and Sons Limited, London. The New Bath Hotel Co. Ltd owned the hotel at that time^[2].

In March 1898 it was reported that "There has been considerable excitement in Matlock Bath this week, consequent on the formation the New Bath Hotel into a limited liability company. The share capital is £15,000 in ordinary stock, and £10,000 worth of 4 per cent. debentures ... We learn that the Company take over the management of the hotel from the 25th inst.". The first directors were Mr. H. A. Hubbersty, J.P., of Buxton, Mr. Harold Buckley, Oldham, Mr. W. E. Hardy of Kimberley Brewery, and Mr. Frank Sykes of Stockport^[3].

This was followed by an advertisement in the April announcing that the first class family and residential hotel was under new management, as Mr. Clulow had been appointed by the Board. He had beeen selected from about 250 applicants^[4]. The adjoining Bath Terrace Hotel was now under the same ownership^[5].

Before he took over, there was a large sale of the hotel's contents which took place between the 16th and 22nd March 1898. It wasn't often that there was such a large sale by auction, and no sale had equalled it since the sale of the effects of Middleton Hall^[6]. The hotel was subsequently entirely refurnished and decorated by Messrs. Waring & Messrs. Goodalls and had "all modern improvements and every comfort". One of the first things the New Bath Hotel Company did was to complain to Matlock Bath Council about the state of the road up to the hotel^[7].

Mr. Clulow was replaced as manager by Robert Rimmer by mid 1901^[8].

A photograph by Mr. John William Hilder^[9], dating from about 1900, was also included in the booklet.The picture was taken at the edge of the large field on the hillside above the hotel, for many years known as the Cumberland Field^[10]. Hilder would have stood quite close to the Wapping, as the image looks both across to Cat Tor and down into the valley. Holy Trinity Church is on the left and there is then a large group of buildings that formed the New Bath Hotel. The row of terraced houses on the right, known as Woodland Terrace, are on Derby Road.

References (coloured links go to on site transcripts):

^[1] See the transcript of 1901 Census of Matlock Bath. Mr, Clulow was in Matlock Bath in 1900 (various entries in "The Derby Mercury").

^[2] Kelly's 1899 Directory for Matlock Bath | Kelly's 1908 Directory for Matlock Bath. The name of the hotel's manager was not mentioned in either directory.

^[3] "Derbyshire Times", 5 March 1898. Gleanings in the Peak.

^[4] "Derby Mercury", 27 April 1898. He had been the resident manager of the Midland Railway Company's Midland Hotel in Derby

^[5] "Derbyshire Times", 6 August 1898.

^[6] "Derbyshire Times", 12 March 1898. Six day sale of contents advertised by George Marsden and Co. The long list included everything from bronze tables with marble tops, to a rare inlaid Sheraton sideboard, yards and yards of carpets, upwards of 165 dozen wines and 6 gas light chandeliers. The outdoor effects included an Omnibus, a Sledge, a Pony with a carriage and harness, 2 In-calf cows, hay and farming implements, plus things like greenhouses and garden frames.

^[7] "Derbyshire Times", 12 August 1899. Matlock Bath Council had financial worries at the time, because of poor payers of debts.

^[8] "Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal", 31 May 1901. Matlock Petty Sessions. May 23rd. "The New Bath Hotel licence was 'finally' transferred from Mr. Bertram Clulow to Mr. Robert Rimmer", although Mr. Clulow's name was in an advertisement just two weeks previously.

^[9] J W and Annie Hilder are listed in the 1891 census and the 1901 census of Matlock Bath.

^[10] The Cumberland field is also referred to as the "Rabbit" or "Millennium" field today.