Picnic at Black Rocks

This week Andy led us on a splendid walk around Cromford and Matlock Bath and he even let us have a picnic at the famous Black Rocks.

We met at Cromford Wharf ...

  ... and set off in search of the Heights of Abraham

We then called in on Andy's chip shop in Matlock Bath

Matlock Bath developed as a spa town in the nineteenth century and was extremely fashionable and prosperous. It was visited by the then Princess (later Queen) Victoria on 22 Oct 1832 when she was a guest of the Duke of Devonshire at nearby Chatsworth House and again in 1844 - the Princess Victoria pub is no doubt named after her and her visit. 

These visits served to enhance the reputation of the resort and it was at this time that Matlock Bath developed its inland 'seaside' resort image that it still carries today.

The health spa aspect of Matlock Bath began much earlier than Victorian times and in fact, it was in 1698 that the discovery was made of three medicinal springs. Soon afterwards the first 'bath' was devised and constructed. It was made of wood, lined with lead and it was this bath that gave Matlock 'Bath' its name.

Other famous people have made comment on Matlock Bath, including Lord Byron and Mary Shelley, who mentions Matlock (Bath) in her novel 'Frankenstein': "We proceeded to Matlock (Bath), which was our next place of rest. The country in the neighbourhood of this village resembles Switzerland; but everything is on a lower scale". 

In those days, many people used the name 'Matlock' when they meant 'Matlock Bath'. John Wesley found it "pleasant beyond expression"; Ruskin expressed his delight as did Nathaniel Hawthorne. Sir John Betjeman, wrote a poem about the village - see link Betjeman's poem - "Matlock Bath"

At tea break, Chris took the opportunity to present Dave with his Green Mat. A proud Dave was well pleased and vowed to work towards the Red Mat award

Riber Castle in the distance

Then on to Cromford

Mill pond ...

... and water wheel

these terraced houses were provided by Arkwright for his workers ...

 ... he lived elsewhere

Black Rocks from afar

We came across this toadstool - which perhaps looks bigger than it is ...

... but as you can see it is less than a foot!

The area has been a well-known rock climbing venue since the 1890s. A large number of hard lines were put up by some of the best climbers of the 80s/90s. The two best known climbs are featured in the documentary Hard Grit. These are Gaia (E8 6b), up the groove in the massive nose that one sees first on the walk to the top, and Meshuga (E9 6c), on the main overhanging Promontory.

The views are fantastic

 Picnic time

 Chris had spotted some interesting graffiti ...

... and Mike wasn't that hungry

We returned to the High Peak Trail

High Peak Junction lies at the bottom of the steep Sheep Pasture incline (some 1320 yards in length at a gradient varying between 1:8 and 1:9)

Following a runaway in 1888 a catch pit was constructed, the two lines passing either side of it. In this accident (of which there are a number of varying versions), it would seem that a wagon loaded with lime and a brake van containing gunpowder broke free from a train, hurtling down the incline at speeds of up to 120mph. Failing to take the bend at the bottom, they then ran across the site, jumping across both the canal (damaging the bank) and the double tracks of the Midland Railway before one of the canisters exploded in the adjacent field. Minutes later the London passenger train passed.

Wreckage seen in the catch pit today dates from a further runaway in the 1950s.

Chris just loves playing with levers ...

... he thought he'd broken it!

 ... but happily he hadn't!

High Peak Junction is the name now used to describe the site where the former Cromford and High Peak Railway (C&HPR), whose workshops were located here, meets the Cromford Canal. It lies within Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, and marks the southern end of the High Peak Trail, a 17 miles trail for walkers, cyclists and horse riders

This first section of the line, from here to Hurdlow, opened on 29 May 1830, opening throughout in 1831. At this point in time the railway was isolated from any other railway lines, being connected only to canals at either end, namely the Cromford Canal in the south, and the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge in the north. Cromford Canal had previously been finished in 1794 and linked Sir Richard Arkwright’s mills to the national waterway system

The workshop complex here was largely built between 1826 and 1830 (making them the second oldest railway workshops in the world 

We broke with tradition and had a welcome coffee break at the café - the shop also had some interesting books of the railway and the area. We then returned to the Wharf and adjourned to the Princess Victoria in Matlock Bath for some excellent local (Ashover and Buxton) ales.