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Images Index> Matlock Bath, 20th and 21stC Images> This page |
| Matlock Bath : Lover's Walks and River Derwent | |||
| Matlock Bath : Twentieth Century Photographs, Postcards, Engravings & Etchings | |||
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This very attractive Edwardian postcard of three young girls playing with their hoops beside the River Derwent has been published in several books[1]. But it isn't just a pretty picture of three children. By the time this photograph was taken the Jubilee Bridge had been in use for some years. Before it opened this was the main crossing point on the river. The footpath, part of Lovers' Walk, goes all the way along to Willersley Castle. On the opposite bank are boats moored at the landing stage, ready for hire. The buildings of the Switchback Railway in the Derwent Gardens are shown, with "Switchback" in large letters on the side of the building next to the river. Next to it is part of the track, raised up on stilts. Writers have always described Lover's Walks in glowing terms. In 1811 Davies[2] wrote "The other path, which is called the Lovers' Walk, has been carried along the margin of the river and has been cut through the wood, and is beautifully arched by the intermingled branches of the trees which inclose it." Equally effusive was the 20th century Ward Lock Guide.[3] "The Lover's Walks, a labyrinth of tree-shaded paths ... holiday-makers, especially the more romantic, have always highly esteemed these walks". The Guide goes on to discuss "the sheltered Derwent Gardens, beautifully laid out with tree-shaded walks by the river's bank. Minor delights here are a cafe and a switchback railway." It may have been considered a minor delight, but you couldn't miss such a large structure! Not everyone approved. |
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One of the Artistic Series, A.P. Co., 9 Bury Court, St. Mary Axe, London, E.C. No.1957. Exact date difficult as the card is not postmarked but first postal date known for their cards is now 1905 (see both Via Gellia, Tufa Cottage on this website and list of postcard publishers elsewhere on the Internet which supplies the date of 1909) Postcard in the collection of, provided by and © Ann Andrews Intended for personal use only |
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References (coloured hyperlinks are to transcripts elsewhere on this website): [1] There's a black and white version of this picture in: Bunting, Julie (2002) "Matlock and Matlock Bath", Tempus Publishing Ltd., Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2QG ISBN 0-7524-2455-6 [2] Davies "History of Derbyshire", p.468 - full details are elsewhere on this site [3] Ward Lock & Co's "Matlock, Dovedale, Bakewell and South Derbyshire", Illustrated Guide Books of England and Wales (1932-3), pp.33-34 There is more on site information:  Another old postcard
showing the Switchbank Railway and some details below it about
the Old PavilionThe
Switchback railway is also mentioned on the "Switzerland
of England" page. |
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