Bakewell

Bakewellis amarket townandcivil parishin theDerbyshire Dalesdistrict ofDerbyshire, England, known forBakewell pudding. It lies on theRiver Wye, 15 miles (23 km) south-west ofSheffield. It is the largest settlement and only town within the boundaries of thePeak District National Park. At the2011 census, the population of the civil parish was 3,949.It was estimated at 3,695 in 2019.The town is close to thetourist attractionsofChatsworth HouseandHaddon Hall.
Although there is evidence of earlier settlement in the area, Bakewell itself was probably founded inAnglo-Saxontimes in the Anglian kingdom ofMercia. The name Bakewell means a spring or stream of a woman named Badeca or Beadeca,so deriving from a personal name with theOld Englishsuffixwella.In 949, it was called Badecanwelle, and in the 1086Domesday BookBadequelle.The Domesday Book listing stated that KingEdward the Confessorheld land here and there was a church and a mill.
These are the outlying estates or berewicks of the manor: Haddon, Holme [in Bakewell], Rowsley, Burton [in Bakewell], Conksbury, Oneash, Monyash, and Over Haddon.
Bakewell Parish Church, aGrade I listedbuilding, dates from 920 and has a 9th-century cross in the churchyard. The present building was built in the 12th–13th centuries, but it was virtually rebuilt in the 1840s byWilliam Flockton.ByNormantimes Bakewell had gained in importance. The Domesday Book mentions the town and its church having two priests. Amotte and bailey castlewas built in the 12th century.In the early 14th-century, the vicar was terrorised by theCoterel gang, which evicted him and confiscated his church's money at the instigation of thecanonsofLichfield Cathedral.
A market was established in 1254, allowing Bakewell to develop as a trading centre. The Grade I listedfive-arched bridgeover the River Wye dates from the 13th century, as one of the few remnants of that period.Also Grade I listed,Holme Bridgedates from 1664 and crosses the Wye on the north-eastern outskirts of the town.Achalybeatespring was discovered and a bath house built in 1697. This led to an 18th-century attempt to develop Bakewell as aspa townin the manner of Buxton. Construction ofLumford MillbyRichard Arkwrightin 1777 was followed by the rebuilding of much of the town in the 19th century.
The mill, built about 1782 and employing over 300 people during the peak years, housed its workforce in cottages. It was sold to theDuke of Devonshirein 1860, but in 1868 suffered fire damage and was rebuilt. It is now a scheduled monument, the oldest part beingGrade I listed.A full 183 listed buildings are located in the town. Its layout altered in the 1800s when Rutland Square was created.
Bakewell is in the valley of the River Wye in central Derbyshire. Its centre is near the river at about 410 feet (120 m) above sea level, with the highest parts of the town at about 607 feet (185 m) on the valley sides.The town is in the Derbyshire Dales district and about 15 miles (24 km) south-west ofSheffield, 31 miles (50 km) south-east ofManchester, and 21 miles (34 km) north ofDerby. Nearby towns includeMatlockto the south-east,Chesterfieldto the east andBuxtonto the north-west. Villages near Bakewell includeAshford-in-the-Water,Elton,Great Longstone,Monyash,Over Haddon,Sheldon,Rowsley,Pilsley,YoulgreaveandBaslow.
Bakewell attracts domestic and foreign tourists. Monday is popular as this is when the town's traditional market day falls each week. The cattle market is held in a purpose-built agricultural centre across the river from the town centre, where a stall market is held.
A major employer is thePeak District National Park Authority, with its offices at Aldern House, Baslow Road. Its task is to conserve, enhance and promote understanding and enjoyment of the local area.Opposite Aldern House is another major employer,Newholme Hospital, anNHScottage hospitalproviding outpatient services. The 19th century listed building was deemed as not suitable for the delivery of modern healthcare during the Better Care Closer to Home conference led by NHS commissioners in 2017. Subsequent to this decision, the hospital was sold in 2024 to a private developer. Newholme Health Centre, a new, modern facility, now stands next to the old site, as of summer 2024.Establishment of aCosta Coffeebranch in the town caused a protest among some local businesses.After almost 10 years of being open, the coffee shop closed its doors in spring 2023.
Local television news is provided byBBC East MidlandsandITV Central;however,BBC YorkshireandITV Yorkshirecan also be received in the town.
Local radio stations areBBC Radio Derbyon 95.3 FM andPeak FM102.0 FM.
All Saints' Churchis aGrade I-listedchurch founded in 920, inSaxontimes. Thechurchyardhas two Saxon crosses. One is the Beeley Cross, unearthed in a field at a disputed location nearBeeleyand moved for some years to the grounds of Holt House nearDarley Bridge. Although only the base and lower part of the shaft survive, it stands over 5 ft/152 cm high and is carved on all four faces.The other is the Bakewell Cross, 8 ft/244 cm high and almost complete. It was carved in the 7th–8th centuries and shows scenes that include theAnnunciation. This may originally have stood atHassopCross Roads.During restoration work on the church in the 1840s, many carved fragments of Saxon stonework were found in and around theporch, along with some ancient stone coffins.
The church contains a selection of medieval and Anglo-Saxon cross fragments and carved stones collected byThomas Batemanand donated toWeston Park MuseuminSheffield, before they were moved to Bakewell in 1899.They include a notablealabastermemorial to SirGodfrey de Foljambe, who acquired the manor of Bakewell about 1350, and to his wife Avena.
The town'sOld House Museumoccupies a 16th-century dwelling house originating from the time ofHenry VIIIand extended underElizabeth I.It is aGrade II*listed building.
TheOld Town Hallin King Street dates from 1602,while the currentTown Hall, in Anchor Street, was completed in 1890.
TheManchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction RailwayopenedBakewell railway stationin 1862, then became part of theMidland Railwayand later of theLMSmain line fromLondontoManchester.John Ruskinobjected to what he saw as desecration of the Derbyshire countryside and to the fact that "every fool in Buxton can be at Bakewell in half an hour, and every fool in Bakewell at Buxton."In return for theDuke of Rutland's permission for the line to pass through his estate at Haddon Hall, Bakewell station buildings on the hillside overlooking the town are more imposing than expected and the Duke'scoat of armsis carved in the stonework. Such pandering to landowners was common at the time, as their support was needed to pass the Act of Parliament allowing the line to be built. However, the inconvenient altitude of the line forced Bakewell station to be placed out of town, as the Duke insisted it be out of sight of Haddon Hall. These buildings are now used by small businesses, as the line betweenMatlockandBuxtonwas closed in 1968. Most of it has been designated theMonsal Trail, a bridle path for walking, cycling and riding.
Passenger trains operated byEast Midlands Railwayrun fromDerby, viaAmbergate, only as far as Matlock; from the west,Northerntrains fromManchester Piccadillyreach only as far as Buxton. There have been efforts to reopen the remainingWye Valleyportion of the line, which would run through Bakewell and over theMonsal Daleviaduct.Peak Rail, a localpreserved railway, has reopened the line from Matlock toRowsley. Reaching Bakewell is one of Peak Rail's long-term ambitions. To keep up intentions for a future return of the railway, Derbyshire County Council currently protects the track bed from development.
TheA6, which linksCarlislewithLuton, runs through the town; it connects Bakewell with Buxton, Matlock and Derby.
TheA619 roadbegins in Bakewell, travels throughChesterfieldand leads toWorksopinNottinghamshire. The medievalBakewell Bridgecarries this road over theRiver Wye.
Bakewell is known for theBakewell pudding, a jampastrywith a filling enriched with egg and ground almond.Bakewell tartis a different confection, made withshortcrust pastry, an almond topping and a sponge and jam filling.Mr Kiplingalso made "Cherry Bakewells", often also known as Bakewell tarts. The origins of these are not clear, but the popular story goes that the combination began by accident in 1820, when the landlady of theWhite Horse Inn(now theRutland Arms Hotel) left instructions for her cook to make a jam tart with an egg andalmond pastepastry base. The cook, however, spread the eggs and almond paste on top of the jam instead of mixing them into the pastry.When cooked the jam rose through the paste. The result was successful enough for it to be a popular confection at the inn. Commercial variations, usually with icing sugar on top, have spread the name.
Three shops in Bakewell offer what they claim to be the original recipe. The Bakewell Tart Shop and Coffee House sells four variations: Bakewell Tart, Iced Bakewell Tart, Moist Bakewell Tart and Traditional Bakewell Pudding.The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop and Bloomers of Bakewell both sell a Bakewell Pudding of their own.
In the 2011 census, Bakewell was 99.1 per cent White, 0.2 per cent Asian and 0.5 per cent mixed/multiple.
In 1888, William Storrs Fox, aCambridgegraduate and naturalist, foundedSt Anselm's School, Bakewell. The school is now co-educational, with some 250 day and boarding pupils aged 3–16.Lady Manners Schoolis a co-educational secondary with about 1,450 pupils. It is also home to the Brew School, the UK's biggest dedicated brewing and distilling school, established in 2014 at the historic Rutland Mill.
The town's primary schools include All Saints Church of England School and Bakewell Methodist Junior School. There are other primaries in neighbouring villages.
The Peak District traditionalwell dressingtakes place in June; colourful images made of petals embedded in clay appear at several places in the town. Then followsCarnivalweek, culminating in a procession at the beginning of July.August brings the Bakewell Arts Festival, a music and theatre event begun in 1997. ThePeak Literary Festivalis held in the spring and autumn of each year. The spring one starts on the last Friday in May and the autumn one on the last Friday in October.
Until 2017, The BakewellAgricultural Showwas among the largest covered agricultural shows in the UK, attracting about 65,000 visitors.It took place on the first Wednesday and Thursday in August at the Bakewell Showground. Known also as the Little Royal, it was founded by Wootten Burkinshaw Thomas in 1819.In 2018 and 2019 (the bicentennial year), the Bakewell Show was suspended in favour of more lucrative commercial events.
Rugby unionis played regularly by Bakewell Mannerians RUFC, which competes inMidlands 2 East (North).
Bakewell has a recreation park to the east of the centre, with tennis courts, a children's playground, and football and cricket pitches. Near the library there is a municipal swimming pool and gym.The River Wye provides a popular riverside walk.
The town'sassociation footballteam, Bakewell Town F.C., competes in theCentral Midlands Football LeaguePremier Division South.
The Stephen Downing case involved the conviction and imprisonment in 1974 of a 17-year-old council worker, Stephen Downing, for the murder of a 32-year-old legal secretary in Bakewell Cemetery. After a campaign by a local newspaper, his conviction was overturned in 2002, by which time Downing had served 27 years in prison. This is thought to be the longestmiscarriage of justicein British legal history,and attracted worldwide media attention.
Bakewell is named by the protagonistElizabeth Bennetas the town from which she travelled toPemberleyin Chapter 43 ofJane Austen'sPride and Prejudice.
53°12′50″N1°40′34″W﻿ / ﻿53.214°N 1.676°W﻿ /53.214; -1.676