Our trail begins with our back to the main road. To our left along the high street is the row of shops that epitomise Matlock Bath’s tourism today, But look ahead towards the river and its banks and we can find out how Matlock’s visitor appeal all began. You can’t miss the pink tones and dome of the now slightly tired looking ‘Grand’ Pavilion. The building seems at odds with the natural backdrop behind it. But the two are actually closely related. The Grand Pavilion once stood ... (read more)
Souvenir pottery
DERSB : 1979.386
Souvenir porcelain cup inscribed, 'A present from Matlock Bath', unknown manufacturer, probably around 1900.
Matlock Baths spring water was discovered in 1600. At 20°C, it is cooler than Buxton water. Matlock village, in the beautiful, sheltered valley of the River Derwent, soon attracted visitors. From the late 1700s both Buxton and Matlock Bath developed thriving tourist trades, with hotels, theatres, concerts, horse racing and ballrooms. By the 1900s, customers came to both towns for hydrotherapy water treatments believed to cure all ills.
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- Rights: Creative Commons CC BY-NC 4.0 Buxton Museum and Art Gallery (part of Derbyshire County Council)