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Bakewell`s History


Bakewell’s history dates back over 2,000 years to when an Iron Age hill fort was constructed near to Ball Cross on the eastern side of the valley. It is also known that the Romans camped around Bakewell and discovered a number of chalybeate springs to fill their Roman baths.

Up to 12 thermal wells were established although most of these have now been lost. However, Bath House which is located in Bath Gardens and was built in 1697 by the Duke of Rutland still contains the original stone vaulted bath or bathing pool fed by a natural warm spring. It is interesting to note that the spas of Bakewell were not exploited in the 19th century as in neighbouring Matlock and Buxton both of which had thriving spa tourism in Victorian times.

Around 924AD Edward the Elder who was the son of Alfred the Great established a military post or burgh at Badecanwyllan (bath well). This was probably the true beginning of the town. In the Domesday Book of 1085 the settlement was described as Badequella, from which the current name of Bakewell has evolved.

In the centre of Bakewell is the fabulous 17th century Old Market Hall which now houses the local tourist information office, but years ago this would have been a place for local farmers and smallholders to sell their butter, eggs and produce.

Bakewell was granted a market charter in 1330, and for nearly 700 years, residents of Bakewell and the surrounding villages have flooded into the town to walk around the stalls. The weekly Monday market is still well supported and transforms the centre of the town, with two areas laid out in narrow lanes, where colourful stalls are heaped with all manner of goods including fruit, fish, pots, pans, clothes, cards, haberdashery, hardware, materials ad millinery.

Centuries ago cattle, sheep, horses and pigs would have been walked to market to be paraded around the centre of the town, later to be transported by tractors and trailers, cattle trucks and trains (until the closure of Bakewell Station in 1968). It was not until the 1960’s that the last of the cows were herded through the town by local farmers, and there are still those who remember the odd beast wandering into shops and houses.

Stock holding pens were established and an auction ring close to the Market Hall, but all these were demolished in 1998 and replaced by the Bakewell Agricultural Centre on the other side of the river. Bakewell Cattle Market is one of the largest in the country and forms the life blood for local farmers who regularly socialise here as well as transact business.

Spanning the clear waters of the river Wye is the medieval Bakewell Bridge with its five gothic arches of mellowed sandstone. This has withstood seven centuries of travellers and traffic visiting the town. It features on countless paintings and pictures as well as many business logos with the spire of All Saints Church in the background.

The waters of the Wye have been harnessed for their power for centuries with a corn mill at Bakewell recorded in the Domesday Book. Victoria Mill which has now been converted into residential units is probably the oldest, but higher up the river are an industrial complex at Riverside Works where Sir Richard Arkwright of Cromford Mill fame expanded his cotton spinning production in the 18th century.

Upstream is the old packhorse bridge and sheep wash of 1664 known as Holme Bridge which leads across the river in front of Holme Hall built in 1625. Other notable old properties in Bakewell are Bagshaw Hall with a façade built in 1684 but with early 16th century sections to the rear, and the 17th century St John’s Almshouses located to the rear of The Old Town Hall of 1709.

Probably the oldest residential property in Bakewell however is the Old House Museum which can be found in Cunningham Place above the church. This is known to date back in part to 1534, although it has later additions, extensions and alterations. In 1954 the property faced demolition but was saved by the Bakewell Historical Society who tastefully transformed it into the Old House Museum, where it is possible to see many artefacts, antiquities, articles of interest and treasures of Bakewell’s past.

Another notable museum to be found in Bakewell is the M & C Collection of Historic Motorcycles on Matlock Streetwhich is privately owned and has limited opening days but raises thousands of pounds annually which it donates to local charities.

The early days of the 19th century were the golden age of stage coaches with numerous coaching inns constructed in Bakewell to accommodate the many weary travellers. The Rutland Arms Hotel which was previously The White Horse Inn was practically rebuilt in an impressive Georgian style and still dominates the centre of Bakewell, overlooking The Square as it is locally known.

The Rutland Arms Hotel is famed for its influential and famous visitors including Jane Austen, who is said to have based the settlement of Lambton in her novel Pride and Prejudice on Bakewell following her stay in 1811 and Pemberly, the home of Mr Darcy, on nearby Chatsworth House. The hotel is also said to be where the traditional Bakewell Pudding was created by a simple mistake with a recipe by a cook named Mrs Greaves.

On the outskirts of Bakewell are two of the most famous private houses in the country. Chatsworth House lies just a few miles to the east on the banks of the neighbouring river Derwent, whilst Haddon Hall is only a mile downstream of Bakewell.
 
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