27th May 2023
We have taken Fufu to the Matlock area of Derbyshire for the bank holiday weekend, meeting up with our friends, Jeeves and Michelle and their cockapoo, Layla. We are staying at a temporary holiday site, organised by the Derbyshire District Association of the Camping and Caravanning Club, at Lees Meadow Farm, Middleton. Thanks to both the stewards and the site owners, who made us feel very welcome.
Matlock, which is a short bus ride from the site, is a small, but busy town on the River Derwent. It is the County Town of Derbyshire, with the town council, Derbyshire County Council and the Derbyshire Dales District Council, all based there (the City of Derby is a unitary authority).
In the 17th century, thermal springs were discovered, which eventually led in the 19th century, to major development with numerous hydros. The largest of these was built by John Smedley, an industrialist, who also built Riber Castle as a home for his family and a way of showing off his wealth. It was known as “Smedley’s Folly” as there was great difficulty in laying on a water supply to the house. His hydro is now Derbyshire County Council Headquarters.
The castle is a grade II listed building and for many years was derelict, but has apparently now been turned into flats.
We walked through to Matlock Bath following the river downstream.
Matlock Bath, which is directly to the south of Matlock and downstream on the River Derwent, is a Mecca for motorcyclists, especially on a bank holiday weekend.
There is a large fish pond on South Parade with Coi Carp. Some of them were huge.
Leaving Matlock Bath, we walked on towards Cromford…
…passing Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mill, which appeared to house a number of retail units, however looked like it had closed-down.
A little further downstream is Cromford Mill, where Richard Arkwright installed his invention the “water frame”. This was the world’s first water-powered spinning mill and is part of the Derwent Valley UNESCO world heritage site.
"See-u-Later" 