Matlock
Matlock is located in the county of Derbyshire in the East Midlands area of England. This is the county town of Derbyshire and it lies in the area known as the Derbyshire Dales on the River Derwent. It is thought that the Romans may well have settled in the Matlock area to take advantage of the lead deposits here. The town was originally referred to as Meslach.
For many centuries Matlock was a quiet place that was perhaps best known for its activities in the agricultural, quarrying and lead mining industries. For many people, however, Matlock is best known as a spa town. Until the late 17th century the area of the current town was essentially just a few villages grouped closely together and the town itself started coming together as a whole at this time when thermal springs were discovered in the area.
During the 19th century the Victorians started to visit Matlock more and more to use the hydros that were being built in the town which led to a significant increase in the town’s population. The Smedley Hydro was perhaps the best known of the hydros in the town which attracted visitors from all over the world. The arrival of the railways in the mid 19th century made Matlock much more accessible which helped with the hydro boom.
In the late 19th century the town also became well known for its new tram system which was at the time the steepest tram system in the world. The tram system opened in 1893 and finally closed down in 1927.
Visitors to Matlock may well like to take a visit to the town’s Hall Leys Park. This park opened in the late 19th century and is still popular with visitors and residents today. Here you can find a boating pond, a miniature railway and one of the old tram shelters from the original system. The town is home to Matlock Live! which is an Arts Festival which is held in Hall Leys Park every June. Many visitors also like to visit the town in December when it hosts the Matlock Victorian Weekend.
Walkers, hikers, nature lovers and climbers may also enjoy a trip to the High Tor which lies between Matlock and Matlock Bath. The area of woodlands which are situated below High Tor are marked as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and High Tor itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
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