| Matlock:
Willersley Castle and the Matlock Hills, from Cromford Hill |
| Matlock : Twentieth Century Photographs, Postcards, Engravings & Etchings |
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Looking north towards Matlock Bath, shown on the left near the top, and Matlock.
The Victoria Tower can be seen on the skyline above Matlock Bath and approximately
45 degrees to the left below it is the distincive white building known as
the Upper Tower. High Tor
is in the centre, , and behind it is the long hillside of Matlock Bank. From
this angle Matlock Dale's famous landmark is dwarfed by both Riber Hill and Masson.
In the valley below where the photographer was standing is Cromford village
and Willersley Castle. Rock House, the property where Sir Richard Arkwright lived
and died, is peeping out from amongst the trees on the right. The Cromford-Lea
road is just above the house.
The nineteenth century writer of Railway Guides, George Bradshaw, believed that
this view from Stonnis (Black Rocks) was the most beautiful of all the views in
the district[1]. Firth, a few years after
Bradshaw, described the view from the top as "superb, despite the mills at
the entrance to the Lovers' Walks ... Cromford lies picturesquely below us with
Willersley Castle and its trees for a charming background[2]."
Immediately below where the photographer stood, on the right, is a working
farm and the lane about a third of the way up on the left must be one end of Baker's Lane.
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"Willersley Castle, Cromford and the Matlock Hills". Published by
Charles Colledge, Smedley Street, Matlock.
Postcard in the collection of and provided by and © Jane Leslie. Not posted.
Researched, written by and © Ann Andrews.
Intended for personal use only.
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References:
[1] "Bradshaw's Handbook for Tourists
in Great Britain and Ireland ... Section Four ... Railways ...
Midland", (1866) pub London (Adams) & Manchester (Bradshaw
and Blacklock). This guide is now famous as the inspiration for
the BBC TV series "Great British Railway Journeys" presented
by Michael Portillo.
[2] Firth, J. B. (1908) "Highways and
Byways in Derbyshire", MacMillan & Co., London.
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