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.

ASHFORD, or Ashford-in the-Water, from being seated on the Wye, is a small village, and chapelry to Bakewell, about one mile from that town, on the road to Buxton. There are many lead mines in the neighbourhood, several of which are now working; and at the entrance of the village from Buxton are the marble-mills and show-rooms of Messrs. Oldfield & Co. established near a century ago, where the sawing of marble, by improved machinery is carried on in all its various branches, for chimney-pieces, monuments, tables, &c., from quarries on the estate of the Duke of Devonshire.

The establishment likewise of Mr. William Milnes is well worthy the attention of the curious, where inlaid and all other descriptions of marble ornaments are manufactured, in every variety of which the material is so susceptible. The chapel is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, the living is a perpetual curacy, in the gift of the vicar of Bakewell, and the present incumbent is the Rev. John Brown; there are also chapels for Wesleyan methodists and unitarians. The chapelry contains 782 inhabitants.

BASLOW is a small neat village, and chapelry to Bakewell, 4 N. E. miles from that town, situate on the banks of the Derwent. The coaches passing through here infuse a degree of liveliness into it; but it possesses nothing otherwise interesting. The chapel, which is dedicated to St. James [Ed: other ancient sources may give St James, or St Anne; it is now quite definitely, St. Anne's] is a neat building, standing on the bank of the river; the living is a perpetual curacy, in the gift of the Duke of Devonshire; the Rev. Anthony Auriol Barker is the present minister. Population of the chapelry, at the last census 863.

EDENSOR-WITH-CHATSWORTH and PILSLEY hamlet forming a parish, in the hundred of High Peak, is remarkable as containing one of the wonders of the Peak, viz. the splendid seat of His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, which is situate about four miles N. E. of Bakewell. The house is built in the ionic order, with a flat roof, surrounded by a neat balustrade; its form is nearly a square, of about 190 feet surrounding a spacious quadrangular court, having a fountain in the centre, surmounted by a Statue of Orpheus. The principal entrance, on the west is by a noble flight of steps to a terrace, the whole length of the building; the fronts which form the quadrangle are decorated with rich sculptures, representing military trophies.

The stone of which this edifice is built is of an excellent description, veined like marble; it was hewn out of the neighbouring quarries. Costly embellishments and extensive improvements are constantly going on at this princely seat. Mary, Queen of Scots, passed thirteen years of her long and melancholy captivity in the old house of Chatsworth, under the care of the Earl of Shrewsbury; and suites of apartments supposed to correspond in situation with those inhabited by that unfortunate Princess, are still called by her name: it was during her constrained residence at this place that she wrote her second letter to Pope Pius, dated the 31st October, 1570.

Here is a handsome church dedicated to St. Peter, the living is a peculiar in the gift of the Duke of Devonshire, the incumbent being chaplain to his Grace. An excellent school here, is principally supported by the Duke of Devonshire; to which every parishioner is entitled to send two children, who are taught (so soon as they can read the New Testament) free of expense, until they arrive at the rule of three. The ‘Devonshire Arms’ Inn, near to the lodge, is a house well conducted by Mr. William Walters, where every attention is paid to parties visiting this grand and romantic neighbourhood; from the Inn is a pleasant road to Chatsworth House, from which it is about a mile distant. Edensor-with-Chatsworth, and Pilsley hamlet, contained, at the last census, 703 inhabitants.

YOULGRAVE is a village in the parish of its name, which is partly in the hundred of Wirksworth, and partly in that of High Peak; about 3 miles S. by W. from Bakewell. It contains the parish church, a good building, dedicated to All-Saints, and a place of worship each for the Wesleyan and primitive methodists. The living of Youlgrave is a discharged vicarage, in the patronage of the Duke of Devonshire: the present incumbent is the Rev. Benjamin Pidcock. The parish contained, at tine last census, 3,081 inhabitants, and the township 951 of that number.

POST OFFICE:- Rutland Arms, Bakewell, William Greaves, Post Master:- Letters from all parts arrive every afternoon at three, and are despatched every morning at four:- Office closes every night at ten.

Description(s) from Pigot and Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835.
Transcribed by Rosemary Lockie in May 1996.