ABOUT MATLOCK
Today, Matlock is a beautiful Victorian spa town nestled in the delightful countryside of the Derwent Valley on the edge of the glorious Peak District National Park.
Known as ‘The Matlocks’, the town is made up of:
Old Matlock, with its historic buildings, church, pub and veterinary practice. Now a popular residential area.
Matlock Bank, home to the Derbyshire County Council offices, County Hall and Derbyshire Dales District Council at the Town Hall, as well as fine Victorian houses.
Matlock Dale on the other side of the river with a wealth of boutique shops, antique establishments, Vets, coffee shops, bars and restaurants.
Matlock Green, with speciality shops, filling station and the fine stone-built Georgian houses of Knowleston Place.
And Matlock Bridge, the town centre, with Hall Leys Park running along the River Derwent, home to the outdoor market, children’s play area and the bowling club. There are a good variety of shops including M&S, the Co-Operative, Iceland and Wilko. Boutique shops, jewellers, coffee shops, Post Office, restaurants, GP Surgery and Dental Practice. And now in pride of place overlooking the park and the football ground are Riber View Apartments.
Transport links
Matlock is well placed for commuting to the cities of Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield and is just 20 minutes from the A38 and the M1 motorway. There is a branch line railway station with a regular service to Derby from where it is only one-and-a-half hours to London. East Midlands Airport is 40 minutes by car and there are regular bus services to Chesterfield, Sheffield, Derby and Manchester.
Community
Now a thriving town, Matlock has lots to offer visitors and residents, with excellent amenities including a wealth of shops, highly regarded schools, sports centre and swimming pool, football club, cricket club, bowling club and excellent health care facilities all within the town. There are numerous clubs and societies offering hobby and leisure activities, several churches and various events including the famous Boxing Day Raft Race on the river. The town is surrounded by fabulous open countryside with excellent walks, golf club, country and outdoor pursuits.
History
Matlock is located in an area rich in mineral deposits and lead, all of which have been mined since Roman times. The town really bloomed with the arrival of the railway in the Victorian era when it became a popular tourist destination, growing further with the Hydropathic Movement when visitors came to take the waters and restorative fresh air. In its heyday there were up to 30 Hydropathic establishments offering various treatments and cures to society’s elite. The most famous was Smedley’s Hydro at the top of Bank Road, the building which is now home to County Hall. In order to accommodate the boom in business, a cable tram was installed between Crown Square in the town centre and Smedley’s Hydro. The tram worked along the same lines as the cable trams in San Francisco and cost the rider tuppence up and a penny down. Smedley also built Riber Castle which dominates the sky line on the hill above the town and is where Riber View Apartments takes its name. The legacy of the Victorian era has furnished the town with a plethora of fine buildings and distinctive character, giving the area an attractive appeal in which to live, work and visit.
Places to visit nearby
Chatsworth House, Haddon Hall, Crich Tramway Village, Bakewell Town, The Heights of Abraham and Matlock Bath, Carsington Water, Ambergate Motor Heritage Centre, Cromford Mill, and Hardwick Hall to name but a few.
Health Care
There are two Doctor’s surgeries within the town both within level walking distance of Riber View, and four Dentist Practices one which offer NHS appointments only, one which treats both NHS and private patients and two private only practices. There are also two pharmacies, Boots and Peak Pharmacy, both within the town centre. The Whitworth Hospital at nearby Darley Dale has a minor injuries department, Xray, physio and various clinics.
Education
Matlock offers excellent education facilities with Highfields School a coeducational secondary school and sixth form, All Saints C of E infant and junior schools, Castle View Primary school and nursery, St Giles C of E primary school and St Joseph’s Catholic primary school. Preschool facilities include Busy Bees nursery school and Matlock Preschool. There is also a public library within the town.
