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BAKEWELL - Description from Pigot's 1835 Directory

BAKEWELL, a market town and township, in the extensive parish of its name, and in the hundred of High Peak, of which district it is termed the metropolis; is 153 miles from London 36 S.E. from Manchester, 25 N.N.W. from Derby, 16 N. from Ashbourn, 12 W. from Chesterfield, 12 E. by S. from Buxton, 10 N.W. from Matlock, and 6 N. from Winster. Bakewell is an ancient town, situate at the foot of a hill, on the western bank of the river Wye, whose stream abounds with trout and other fish affording ample reward to the patience of the angler; while the rich and romantic scenery, enhanced in beauty by the noble appearance of wood-clad hills, present strong and almost not to be resisted inducements, to the visitors of Buxton and Matlock, to tarry a time in this vicinity.

The chalybeate baths, re-established by the Duke of Rutland, constitute one of the greatest attractions of this place. The principal bath is thirty-three feet long and sixteen wide: there are also shower baths and a private warm bath, and a newsroom has been added to the establishment; there is besides a good collection of minerals and fossils in the Bath-gardens, the property of Mr. White Watson, F.L.S. The manufactures of this place are not extensive: near the entrance to the town is a cotton-mill, erected by the late Sir Richard Arkwright; and in the immediate vicinity are extensive quarries of black & grey marble, and of chert - the latter is used in the manufacture of earthenware, in the Staffordshire potteries.

The town is within the jurisdiction of the county magistrates, and a constable and other officers are appointed at the court-leet of the lord of the manor, the Duke of Rutland. A petty session for the hundred of High Peak, is held here on the first and third Friday in every month; and a mineral-court for the manor, according to the local customs of the lead mines within it, occasionally. The election of knights of the shire, to represent the northern division of the county, takes place in this town.

The places of worship are the parish church, and chapels for Wesleyan methodists and Calvinists. The church, which is dedicated to All-Saints, has within these few years been deprived of one of its greatest ornaments, the tower, from the summit of which most extensive rich and diversified views were commanded - the church is situate on an elevated site, and is of crucifix form, partly in the Norman and partly in the early style of English architecture; and the interior is enriched by many elegant tombs, and a handsome organ. The living is a discharged vicarage in the patronage of the dean and chapter of Lichfield: the present incumbent is the Rev. Francis Hodgson.

The principal charities are a free-school, founded in 1636; St. John's hospital (or alm's houses) for six aged men, founded and endowed in 1602; a dispensary, and a lying-in institution; there is besides one, of those provident establishments, a savings' bank. Some noble seats are in the vicinity of Bakewell; among which are, the seat of the Duke of Devonshire at 'Chatsworth'. 'Haddon Hall', the seat of the Duke of Rutland; 'Hassop', the seat of the Earl of Newburgh, &c. The weekly market is held on Friday, and there is a market for cattle every alternate Monday; the fairs are on Easter-Monday and Whit-Monday, and cheese fairs on the 26th of August, the first Monday after the 10th of October, and first Monday after the 11th of November. The parish of Bakewell is the most extensive in the county, being more than 20 miles in length from north-west to south-east, and upwards of eight in breadth, containing nine chapels of ease: its population, in 1821, amounted to 9,162, and in 1831, to 9,503 inhabitants, of which last number, 1,898 were returned for the township.

[Description from Pigot and Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835
Transcribed by Rosemary Lockie ©1999]

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