Editing Matlock Bath

{{Short description|Village in Derbyshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
|static_image_name = River Derwent at Matlock Bath.jpg
|static_image_width = 280
|static_image_caption = Matlock Bath, viewed from the [[Heights of Abraham]]
|country = England
|coordinates = {{coord|53.11|-1.56|display=inline,title}}
|official_name= Matlock Bath
|map_type= Derbyshire
|population = 753
|population_ref = (2011)
|civil_parish= Matlock Bath<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.matlockbathparishcouncil.gov.uk/ |title=Home |website=matlockbathparishcouncil.gov.uk}}</ref>
|shire_district= [[Derbyshire Dales]]
| shire_county = [[Derbyshire]]
|region= East Midlands
|constituency_westminster= [[Derbyshire Dales (UK Parliament constituency)|Derbyshire Dales]]
|post_town= MATLOCK
|postcode_district = DE4
|postcode_area= DE
|dial_code= 01629
|os_grid_reference= SK293579
}}

'''Matlock Bath''' is a village and [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in [[Derbyshire]], England. It lies in the [[Derbyshire Dales]], south of [[Matlock, Derbyshire|Matlock]] on the main [[A6 road (England)#Peak District–Manchester|A6 road]], and approximately halfway between [[Buxton]] and [[Derby]]. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 753.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11126410&c=Matlock+Bath&d=16&e=62&g=6413721&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1459160993495&enc=1|title=Civil Parish population 2011|access-date=28 March 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics|work=Neighbourhood Statistics}}</ref> Originally built at the head of a [[Cul-de-sac|dead-end]] dirt road running along the valley of the [[River Derwent, Derbyshire|River Derwent]] from [[Matlock, Derbyshire|Matlock]], the settlement developed in the 19th century as residential and a [[spa town]] which remains a [[tourist]] destination. The steep hillside restricts development, with most buildings on one side of the valley and only footbridges across the river. The road was upgraded, becoming a through-way, now designated A6, avoiding the previous coaching road approach to Matlock from [[Cromford]] over very steep hills near to the [[Riber|Riber plateau]] area.<ref>[http://www.aboutderbyshire.co.uk/cms/places/riber-starkholmes.shtml About Derbyshire – Riber and Starkholmes] Retrieved 2014-06-29</ref>

'''Matlock Dale''' is a hamlet about {{convert|0.5|mi|km|1}} north of the village, and the term also refers to this stretch of the river valley.

==History==
In 1698, warm springs were discovered and a bath house was built. As the waters became better known, access was improved by building the bridge into [[Matlock, Derbyshire|Old Matlock]] and in 1783, the opening of a new entrance at the south of the valley. [[Queen Victoria|Princess Victoria of Kent]]'s royal visit in 1832<ref name=vic1832 /> confirmed Matlock as a society venue of the time. Victoria's party visited a pair of museums and a petrifying well.<ref name=vic1832>RA VIC/MAIN/QVJ (W) 23 October 1832 (Queen Victoria's handwriting). Retrieved 2013-05-24</ref> [[John Ruskin]] and [[Lord Byron]] were visitors, Byron comparing it with alpine Switzerland, leading to a nickname of ''[[Little Switzerland (landscape)|Little Switzerland]]''.  [[Erasmus Darwin]] recommended the area to [[Josiah Wedgwood]] I for its beauty and soothing waters, and members of the families vacationed and settled there. [[Edward Levett Darwin]], son of [[Francis Sacheverel Darwin]], lived at Dale House in Matlock Bath, where he was a solicitor.

When the [[North Midland Railway]] opened in 1840, carriages plied for hire from [[Ambergate railway station|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 a designated conservation area with an [[Article 4 direction]] in relation to properties, predominantly along North and South Parade.

==Government==
Matlock Bath is in the local government district of Derbyshire Dales, and is part of the parliamentary constituency of the same name. The Member of Parliament is [[John Whitby]] of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].

==Tourism==
[[File:Ornamental Fountain - geograph.org.uk - 1861277.jpg|thumb|Fountain in Derwent Gardens]]
<!-- Please note - there is no Wikipedia article for High Tor at Matlock Bath, only for something quite different with the same name! So no wikilink double-brackets, thanks!!  -->
Matlock Bath has attractions including the [[Heights of Abraham]] park, [[Gulliver's Kingdom]] [[theme park]], the [[Peak District Lead Mining Museum]], the former [[Life in a Lens Museum of Photography & Old Times]], the [[Grand Pavilion, Matlock Bath|Grand Pavilion]], [[Derwent Gardens]], [[Lovers' Walks]] and an [[aquarium]].

On the opposite bank of the river Derwent stands High Tor, a sheer cliff used by climbers and walkers. High Tor features Giddy Edge, a narrow winding path along the cliff edge.<ref>[http://www.peakdistrictinformation.com/visits/hightor.php Peak District Information] Retrieved 2014-07-07</ref> The [[Heights of Abraham cable cars]] link the base of High Tor rising to the Heights of Abraham.<ref>[http://www.heightsofabraham.com/ Heights of Abraham] Retrieved 2014-07-07</ref>

In autumn of each year, the "Venetian Nights" are held with illuminations along the river and illuminated boats.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

On Sundays in summer many hundreds of motorcyclists congregate in the town.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

==Popular culture references==
Andrew Asibong's [[phantasmagorical]] novel ''Mameluke Bath'' is set in a futuristic version of Matlock Bath,<ref>[http://www.open-bks.com/library/moderns/mameluke-bath/about-book.html ''Mameluke Bath'', Open Books, 2013] Retrieved 2015-02-10</ref> and Eleanor Bowen-Jones' film ''Return to Mameluke Bath'' explores both real and fictional versions of the town.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwWvgvLGe6s ''Return to Mameluke Bath''] Retrieved 2015-02-10</ref>

Each year the [[Parish councils in England|Parish Council]] organises Pro Loco events in the area. There are pro loco art and photography competitions which are free to enter.<ref>[http://matlockbathparishcouncil.gov.uk Matlock Bath Parish Council homepage] Retrieved 2015-03-03</ref>

The village is mentioned in the [[Half Man Half Biscuit]] song "The Light at the End of the Tunnel (Is the Light of an Oncoming Train)".

==Transport==

===Railway===
[[Matlock Bath railway station]] was built in 1849 on the [[Midland Railway]] line between [[London St Pancras railway station|London]] and [[Manchester Central railway station|Manchester]]. The section from Matlock to [[Buxton railway station|Buxton]] was closed in 1968, as result of the [[Beeching cuts]].

Today, trains run generally hourly each way between Matlock and [[Derby railway station|Derby]] on the [[Derwent Valley Line]], operated by [[East Midlands Railway]].

===Roads===
The [[A6 road (England)|A6]], which links [[Carlisle]] with [[Luton]], passes through the town; it provides access to [[Manchester]], [[Stockport]], [[Bakewell]], [[Matlock, Derbyshire|Matlock]] and [[Derby]].

==Sport==
The River Derwent in Matlock Bath is a location for canoeing, both recreational and competitive.  Matlock Canoe Club hosts national-level [[Rafting|wild-water racing]] and [[Canoe slalom|slalom]] events here, and it is an assessment location for the [[British Canoe Union|BCU]] 4 Star award.

There are numerous cliffs around Matlock Bath used for rock climbing. Generally unequipped, the climbing on the cliffs is in traditional style placing protection as you go. High Tor,<ref>https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/high_tor_derbyshire-119/</ref> Pic Tor,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pic Tor |url=https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/pic_tor-1354/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=www.ukclimbing.com |language=en}}</ref> Willersley Castle Rocks,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Willersley Castle Rocks |url=https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/willersley_castle_rocks-127/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=www.ukclimbing.com |language=en}}</ref> Wildcat crags<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wildcat |url=https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/wildcat-143/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=www.ukclimbing.com |language=en}}</ref> and many others are all documented as having many climbs.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Matlock Bath.jpg|The main shopping and refreshment area situated on the A6 road, Matlock Bath
File:Cable Cars(Heights of Abraham Matlock) - geograph.org.uk - 194529.jpg|Cable Cars high above the A6 road and the River Derwent
File:High Tor, Matlock Dale - geograph.org.uk - 426617.jpg|View of High Tor from the cable car showing the A6 road through the Bath with Matlock town in the distance
File:High rise living - geograph.org.uk - 462756.jpg|Most of the development on one side of the valley – steep hillside building solutions
File:Footbridge over River Derwent, Matlock Bath - geograph.org.uk - 1285959.jpg|Most of the development on one side of the valley – footbridge over the River Derwent
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Listed buildings in Matlock Bath]]
*[[St John the Baptist's Chapel, Matlock Bath]]
*[[Grand Pavilion, Matlock Bath]]
*[[Matlock Bath War Memorial]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Matlock Bath}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maipHxQDF7s Video footage of Matlock Bath railway station]
*[http://www.andrewsgen.com/matlock/matlockintro.htm Matlock – the town and its history]
* [http://www.andrewsgen.com/matlock/ Extensive site on the history of Matlock and Matlock Bath]
{{Derbyshire}}

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[[Category:Villages in Derbyshire]]
[[Category:Spa towns in England]]
[[Category:Towns and villages of the Peak District]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Derbyshire]]
[[Category:Derbyshire Dales]]