| The Andrews Pages Picture Gallery : Derbyshire |
| A selection of photographs, prints and postcards.
Some have personal or family connections |
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| Cromford, about 1773 |
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A View in Crumford near Matlock Bath in Derby Shire
one of "a Variety of Copper plate cuts, neatly engraved". Artist and engraver not known |
The book that this image is from states that "Crumford is a small village, near Matlock, which has a very romantic
appearance" (quote from 2nd ed. dated 1776, see book reference below). It mentions nothing of the newly
built mill just down the road. An earlier image was published by John Boydell in 1749[1] but
this picture shows more buildings had been erected in the interim.
The large rocky outcrop is in central Cromford, almost opposite Cromford Market Place. Its exact location has been pinpointed by Doreen Buxton and
Christopher Charlton who noticed the wide, almost horizontal opening in the rock in the engraving is still to be found behind the building that
houses Cromford Community Centre today. There was then no entry into Matlock Bath and no road southwards to Derby. The Greyhound Hotel had yet to be built.
In the distance, slightly left of centre, are two tall buildings that are also seen on Cromford
Hall, before 1791. Two buildings on the bank of Bonsall brook are fenced off and the walkway then narrows.
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Enlargement of the bottom right hand corner, showing buildings and a track below the rock.
Quite what the male who is sitting on the ground is doing is a mystery,
but he seems to be just passing the time of day by looking at the water of Bonsall Brook.
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Images from this or other volumes of the book
The above engraving was published in "A New Display of
the Beauties of England: or, A description of the most elegant
or magnificent public edifices, royal palaces, noblemen's and
gentlemen's seats, and other curiosities, natural or artificial,
in different parts of the kingdom ..." Published
London: R. Goadby, 1773, 1774 in 2 vols. The 2nd ed. published
1776. This engraving from Vol. 1 P[late].161.
In the collection of, provided by and © Ann Andrews.
Intended for personal use only.
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References:
[1]The original image was first published by Boydell as one of a series of plates "Collection of One Hundred
Views in England and Wales." See the earlier Boydell image and a fuller description in the book: Buxton, Doreen and Charlton, Christopher
(November 2013) "Cromford Revisited", The Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Educational Trust. ISBN 978-0-9541940-6-2.
Cromford is mentioned in the following on-site transcripts:
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Derbyshire's
Parishes, 1811, Parishes C - D