Matlock, Derbyshire.html |
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| Matlock | |
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  Matlock shown within Derbyshire |
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| Population | 9,496 (Parish) |
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| OS grid reference | |
| Parish | Matlock Town |
| District | Derbyshire Dales |
| Shire county | Derbyshire |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MATLOCK |
| Postcode district | DE4 |
| Dialling code | 01629 |
| Police | Derbyshire |
| Fire | Derbyshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| European Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | West Derbyshire |
| List of places: UK • England • Derbyshire | |
Matlock is the county town of Derbyshire, England. It is situated at the south eastern edge of the Peak District, and is twinned with the French town Eaubonne. The former spa resort Matlock Bath lies immediately south of the town on the A6.
Matlock is nine miles south west of Chesterfield, surrounded by the cities of Derby (19 miles), Sheffield (20 miles) and Nottingham (29 Miles). The A6 road continues to the Metropolitan areas of Stockport (30 miles) and Manchester (45 miles away). Although officially occupying a central England position geographically, Matlock is in the west of Derbyshire in what is known as the Derbyshire Dales which includes the towns of Wirksworth, Bakewell and Ashbourne. Industry in the area is now relatively low since the decline of the mill industry and job opportunities are quite poor apart from tourism and administration jobs. Many now travel to Chesterfield and the South Yorkshire conurbation for work.citation needed In 2005, the Government paper The Northern Way suggested to include Matlock into a newly formed Sheffield City Region which ultimately mean the redesign of regional and county councils. However to date there is no set time agenda for this to happen.
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History
A former spa town, Matlock lies on the River Derwent, and has prospered from both the hydrotherapy industry and the mills constructed on the river. It was an unimportant collection of small villages — Matlock Town, Matlock Green, Matlock Bridge, Matlock Bank — until thermal springs were discovered in 1698. The population increased rapidly in the 1800s, largely due to hugely popular hydros being built. At one stage there were around twenty hydros, most on Matlock Bank. The largest was built in 1853 by John Smedley. This closed in the 1950s, when it became home to Derbyshire County Council. Matlock is also home to the Derbyshire Dales District Council as well as Matlock Town Council.
The town centre development
For many years, the council had proposed to allow a Sainsbury's supermarket to be built in Cawdor Quarry, a disused quarry next to the railway station. In late spring 2007 building work started, and it was opened on Thursday 4th October 2007. The access road for the supermarket forms part of a new one way system, whereby the A6 bypasses the town centre. A footbridge from the railway station allows pedestrian access to the supermarket from the town centre. A newly built bus station next to the train station is intended to create an integrated transport terminal.[1]. However, several bus routes will continue to serve only the old Bus Station on Bakewell Road, making Matlock one of the smallest towns in Britain to boast two bus stations.
Transportation
Bank Road Tram
In 1893, Matlock Cable Tramway, a cable tramway was built up Bank Road from Crown Square at Matlock Bridge to Wellington Street (at the top of Bank Road) with a stop half way up at Smedley Street where Smedley's Hydro (built by John Smedley) was situated. Conceived by Job Smith, the tram was inspired by San Francisco's famous cable cars, and cost £20,000. When it was built it was the steepest tramway in the world at a gradient of 1 in 5½, and it rose 300 feet. The fare was tuppence up, penny down. It closed in 1927 after losing business to cars and buses.
Railways
Matlock railway station was opened on the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway, later the Midland, line between London and Manchester, until the section between Matlock and Buxton was closed in 1968 during the Beeching Axe. Network Rail considered re-opening the line, with a study carried out by the county council. Although it proved to be unfeasible in the short term, the track bed will be kept free of development as the study showed that the line could be economically viable from around 2025[2]. The section from Wye Dale (about 3 miles east of Buxton) to Coombs viaduct, a point about a mile south-east of Bakewell, has now become the Monsal Trail, an 8.5 mile walk and cycle trail.
Trains still run between Matlock and Derby on the Derwent Valley Line. Peak Rail, a preserved railway, runs steam trains on a section of the closed line between Matlock, Darley Dale and Rowsley. It is hoped that in the future Peak Rail will be able to share the mainline station – it currently has its own station, Matlock Riverside, a short distance to the north.
Hall Leys Park
The tram shelter from Crown Square is now in Hall Leys Park, a large Victorian park next to the River Derwent which opened in 1898. The park boasts a miniature railway, bandstand and a boating pond, with the oldest running powered boats in Britain, for many years, as well as tennis courts and a war memorial. There is an ongoing project to update and upgrade all the parks in the Matlock area - Hall Leys Park was the first to benefit from this and the children's play area has been greatly modernised. There has also been a skateboard park added replacing grass tennis courts. The park hosts an arts festival, Matlock Live, every June and the Matlock Victorian Christmas Weekend on the first weekend of December.
Bank Road
Bank road runs from Crown Square up Matlock Bank, a steep hill which gives the road its name, to Wellington Street. Although many consider the whole incline to be Bank Road, just over half-way up beyond Smedley Street the road is called Rutland Street. Bank Road has many local landmark buildings along it - from the bottom of the hill (Crown Square) travelling north:
- The Crown Hotel - the original site of the hotel which gave its name to Crown Square is now a building society office. The Crown is now a Wetherspoon's pub just along Bakewell Road. [1]
- Post Office and Sorting Office
- Derbyshire Dales District Council Offices - the home of Derbyshire Dales District Council. [2]
- Our Lady & St. Joseph's Catholic Church
- Youth Hostel - a YHA youth hostel - closed on 30th September 2007. [3]
- Matlock Methodist & United Reformed Church [4]
- Old Sunday School which is now a B&B.
- Old Methodist Church which, until recently, housed the Matlock Wurlitzer[5].
- County Hall - the home of Derbyshire County Council [6] since the 1950s, formerly Smedley's Hydro[7]. Part of the County Hall complex is seen in Women in Love, Ken Russell's Oscar winning 1969 film. As the Brangwen sisters walk out of their house (in reality No. 80, New Street) near the beginning of the film they are seen walking towards Bank Road.
- Smedley Street which traverses Matlock Bank and has its own parade of shops and a post office (now closed).
- The Gate public house
NB. Beyond Smedley Street Bank Road is actually Rutland Street.
- The Old Tram Depot which is now a garage and car repair centre.
- Rockside Hydro an imposing building with views across Matlock, now converted into flats.
Sport
Matlock is home to Matlock Town Football Club, known as 'The Gladiators'. They are currently in the Unibond Premier League and play home matches at their Causeway Lane ground, now known as the Geoquip Stadium.
Matlock is also home to Matlock Cricket Club who play their games next to the football ground, and Matlock and District Swimming Club (also known as MAD Swimming) who train and compete in the nearby Matlock Lido.
Matlock has a regular rugby team who play their home matches at nearby Cromford Meadows. They run 3 senior teams and the 1st XV compete at Level 6 in the RFU league structure. Matlock Rugby Club also has a thriving mini's and junior section with over 250 members all supported by fully qualified mini and junior coaches. In 2007 the club was awarded the Derbyshire Tigger Price Memorial trophy for the team of the year award
Matlock is to host the National Cycling Hill Climbing Championship on 29th October 2008.
Education and the Arts
Matlock has a growing reputation for the creative and performing arts which was enhanced in 2004 when the annual arts festival Matlock Live! begancitation needed. It takes place in June or July each year featuring local musicians, dancers, artists, etc. The local secondary school, Highfields School, achieved status as a Performing Arts College due to its connections with Matlock Live!citation needed As part of the summer event, Matlock Live invites Buskers / Street performers to form a busking trail around Matlock raising money for the charity Aquabox. More information on Matlock Live events can be found at [www.matlocklive.com|www.matlocklive.co.uk]
History of Education in Matlock
- See also: Highfields School#History
Before Highfields School was founded in 1982, when the tripartite education system ended, there were three schools in Matlock; Charles White's Secondary Modern, John Turner's Secondary Modern and Ernest Bailey's Grammar School. These schools were merged to create Highfields, a comprehensive. The site of Charles White's became lower site of Highfields, Ernest Bailey's was converted to the council record offices, John Turner's was demolished and the site is now the parkway housing estate and a new school was built to house the new Upper Lumsdale site.
Matlock on film and television
- Coming Down the Mountain, The BBC drama was set partly in Matlock although nothing was filmed there.
- Women in Love, Ken Russell's Oscar winning 1969 film, uses a house at the top of New Street (No. 80) as the home of the Brangwen sisters, Gudrun and Ursula. The house is currently a B&B.
- Peak Practice, the ITV series, used locations in Matlock, including Highfields Secondary School, Victoria Hall Gardens and Henry Avenue, although the main village location is Crich and nearby Fritchley.
- Dead Man's Shoes, the 2004 film by Shane Meadows, was filmed in and around Matlock.
- In Denial of Murder, 2005 BBC dramatisation of Matlock Mercury editor Don Hale's campaign to free Stephen Downing.
- Jane Eyre, 2006 BBC Adaptation of the Charlotte Brontë novel was filmed at the Haddon Hall and the countryside nearby.
Youth Hostels
The Youth Hostels Association has its national headquarters on Dimple Road, Matlock. Despite the close proximity of the HQ, the YHA announced in 2005 that they would be closing down the Matlock Hostel which is situated on Bank Road.
Famous Residents
- Simon Groom, the DJ and former Blue Peter presenter.
- Geoff Hinsliff, actor who played Don Brennan in Coronation Street
- Chris Green, British comedy performer and writer.
- George Newnes, MP, publisher of the Strand Magazine was born here in 1851[3]
- Isy Suttie, British comedian
- Philip Whitehead, MP, MEP, Author and Emmy award winning Producer was born here[4]
- Ben Ottewell, from the band Gomez
- Rhythm plate, Music production duo consisting of Matt Rhythm and Ant Plate
References
External links
- Extensive site on the history of Matlock and Matlock Bath.
- Matlock Live! website
- Matlock Mercury, local newspaper
- Matlock Footbridge Campaign
- County Council Feasibility Study Derbyshire County Council (2004) Derby to Manchester Railway Matlock to Buxton / Chinley Link Study. Main Report, Volume 1A: Version: Final. This report also has detailed plans of the line.
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