Bakewell Derbyshire - central to the Peak District Bakewell Derbyshire - central to the Peak District Bakewell is the home of the Peak District National Park Authority. Founded by the Romans at a crossing of the River Wye. In Saxon times Edward the Elder built a fort here. Jane Austen stayed in the Rutland Arms, where the Bakewell Pudding was invented. Local Attractions Bakewell Church Bakewell's name is said to derive from the warm springs in the area - the Domesday book entry calls the town 'Badequella', meaning Bath-well. The town was built on the West bank of the Wye at a spot where it was fordable and the site was probably occupied in Roman times (there is a Roman altar at Haddon Hall , found nearby). The Saxons left their mark here and in 924 Edward the Elder ordered a fortified borough to be built here. The church was founded in 920 and some Saxon fragments can be seen in the porch. However, although parts are Norman, most of the modern building dates from the 13th century and it was then virtually rebuilt in the 1840s.

It contains many interesting monuments and is well worth a visit. A few yards up the hill from the church is the award-winning Old House Museum, housed in one of the few genuinely medieval buildings of the area. This house serves as a local history museum and is in the care of the Bakewell Historical Society. Other places of historical interest include Bagshaw Hall, a fine 17th century house built by a rich lawyer, and several old buildings down King Street, such as the Old Town Hall, the Red Tudor House and the Hospital of the Knight of St John. Just off the Buxton Road lies Victoria Mill, which ground corn from water power until 1939. The old bridge at Bakewell Two of the original wells (which serve up water rich in iron at a temperature of 15 degrees Centigrade) still survive. These are the Bath-well in Bath Street and Holywell (or Pete well) in the recreation ground. The others have been filled in long ago. Likewise, little except the bridge across the Wye (built around 1300 though widened since then) now survives of the old Bakewell, which was quite medieval in character until the early 19th century.

In 1777 Arkwright opened a mill in the town and it was perhaps the resulting surge in prosperity which caused the town to be largely rebuilt in the 19th century. One such building is the Rutland Arms, overlooking the town square and built in 1804. Jane Austen stayed here in 1811 and in Pride and Prejudice she has Elizabeth Bennet stopping here to meet the Darcys and Mr Bingley. However the Rutland Arms' chief claim to fame is as the place where the Bakewell Pudding (Bakewell has never heard of tarts) was invented by a chef of 1859 who made a mistake. You can now buy Bakewell Puddings at several establishments across the town, all claiming to have the original unique recipe. Bakewell has one of the oldest markets in the area, dating from at least 1300. The first recorded fair was held in 1254. Markets are still held every Monday and, unlike most of the other local centres, there is a thriving livestock market at the recently rebuilt Agricultural Centre, which is well worth a visit.

The big event of the year is the annual Bakewell Show, which takes place the first Wednesday and Thursday in August and attracts farmers and many others from all over the Peak District and surrounding area. Bakewell from the river There are some very pleasant walks along the river from the bridge in the centre of town. Downstream leads to the recreation ground and upstream takes you to the site of Arkwright's mill, via Holme Hall (a fortified manor house dated 1626) and Holme Bridge (dated 1664). The mill burned down in 1868, but the cottages associated with it (Lumford Terrace), still survive. Bakewell has a full range of shops, pubs and restaurants. There are numerous options for accommodation and there is also a Youth Hostel. Bakewell has an annual well dressing and carnival, held in late June and it is the home of the Peak District National Park Authority, who have their main offices at Aldern House, Baslow Road. They also operate the town's information centre which is in the old Market Hall in Bridge street, with a parking area (except on market days) and public toilets next to it.

It is open daily 9.30am - 5.30pm in summer and 9.30am - 1pm in winter. Telephone: 01629 813227 Bakewell, Derbyshire - BakewellOnline.co.uk Welcome to Bakewell Online. Bakewell's only dedicated independent resident and tourist information website. BAKEWELL - 'ancient capital of the Peak...' Set in an enviable location on the banks of the Wye, with the river meandering gently through the centre, this beautiful old market town is in the heart of the Peak District, surrounded by stunning countryside views. Famous for its Puddings , Annual events and for receiving royal charter as a market town in 1330, markets are still held every Monday in the town centre and there is a thriving livestock market. Bakewell grew up around a cluster of thermal springs and wells that attracted Iron Age settlers and, in Anglo-Saxon times, gave the place its name. The town has a long and fascinating history ; mentioned in the Domes Day Book of 1085 ,`Badequellaï¿½ meaning Bath-well.

Less than 200 years ago, Bakewell presented a completely different picture with narrow streets and timber framed properties, many of which had thatched roofs. The modern layout of the town only came about in the 19th century. Visitors flock to shop and explore the towns nooks and crannies, to admire the fine stone Derbyshire buildings, or just to relax in by the clear, sparkling waters of the River Wye. Modern Bakewell has something for everyone, and everything for someone, from its many historic buildings and its wonderful riverside walks along the banks of the Wye, to its award-winning newly designed and recently revamped town centre with shopping arcades and numerous emporiums of excellence. Looking for somewhere to stay? - why not try .. Bakewell - Discover Derbyshire and the Peak District BAKEWELL THE FEATURE Set in an enviable location on the banks of the River Wye, in the heart of the Peak District, is the picturesque old market town of Bakewell.

When in 1951, the Peak was the first of the national parks to be set up in England and Wales, Bakewell - the only sizeable market town in the park - was the logical choice as the administrative centre. From its offices at Aldern House, it controls an area of 542 square miles and covers Staffordshire, Cheshire, West and South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester as well as Derbyshire. The population when the park was set up was only 38,000 and has not changed drastically since that day. The Peak Park marked its 50th anniversary in 2001, in what must have been the worst year in its history, due to the foot and mouth epidemic. It is gradually recovering and the hopes are that 2003 will be a bumper year for everyone. Visitors flock to Bakewell in the summer, to shop and explore its many nooks and cranies, to admire its fine buildings, or just relax and feed the ducks by the lovely, clear, sparkling waters of the River Wye. There is more space in the winter, but on a sunny day even, that is limited.

The town is particularly busy every Monday, which is market day, when the stalls and the livestock market, in normal circumstances, do brisk business. Until recently, the livestock market occupied a position near the centre of the town, before moving to its controversial new building on the other side of the river away from the town centre. The strong connection with agriculture is further emphasised every August when the town hosts one of the largest agricultural shows in the country. The two-day event is normally attended by in the region of 35,000 people and despite foot and mouth, it continued in a modified format in 2001. Less than 200 years ago, Bakewell presented a completely different picture with narrow streets and timber framed properties, many of which had thatched roofs. The modern layout of the town only came about in the 19th century. Rutland Square was created and the Rutland Arms replaced the Old White Horse Inn. It was at the Rutland Arms, in about 1860, where the hotel cook misunderstood her instructions and produced the world famous Bakewell Pudding.

Instead of stirring the egg mixture into the pastry, she spread it on top of the jam, which has to this day proved to be a stroke of genius in creating name awareness for the town. The Bakewell Pudding Shop is an interesting place to visit, with information panels and exhibits to view as well as the chance to sample a delicious Bakewell Pudding, not ï¿½tartï¿½, as some mistakenly call it nowadays. Tours of the Bakehouse can be arranged for parties after closing time. In 1811, Jane Austen, who wrote ï¿½Pride and Prejudiceï¿½ is said to have stayed at the Rutland Arms and incorporated it in her writing. The hotel has even named a suite after her to commemorate the visit. The site, on which All Saints Church stands has been used for worship since Anglo - Saxon times and contains the largest and most varied group of medieval monuments in the United Kingdom.

Inside the church, there are many references to the ï¿½Mannersï¿½ and ï¿½Vernonï¿½ families, the story of the elopement of John Manners and Dorothy Vernon being one of the Peak Districtï¿½s most romantic tales. The Olde House Museum is well worth seeking out, hidden away as it is behind the church. Originally a Parsonage, it was later converted into six cottages by Sir Richard Arkwright, another four cottages were accommodated in the adjacent barn, to house his workers at Lumford Mill. It is now one of the best-preserved 15th century houses in the country, but only 50 years ago it was nearly demolished, the local council having served a ï¿½Demolition Orderï¿½. There was an outcry locally and the house was eventually saved and restored to its former glory by the Bakewell Historical Society. It is now a fascinating folk museum worth climbing up the hill to visit. Half way down Bagshaw Hill is Bagshaw Hall the former home of Thomas Bagshaw, who was a solicitor.

The house is a pleasing mixture of gritstone and limestone, the town being situated on the edge of both areas. At the bottom of the hill is Arkwright Square, where the cottages housed factory workers. Arkwrightï¿½s cotton-spinning factory at Lumford Mill, built about 1782, at its peak employed about 350 people, mainly women and children. It was sold to the Duke of Devonshire in 1860, but unfortunately, it came to an untimely end when it was burnt down eight years later. After re-building, it continued to operate as a cotton factory to the end of the century. An attractive row of workersï¿½ cottages remains. Downstream is Holme Bridge, dating from 1664, and a former packhorse crossing point. Packhorse leaders coming from the Monyash direction, to avoid paying tolls in the centre of the town used the bridge. Loads of up to two hundred weight were carried in pannier baskets, slung on either side of the horse. The bridge was of sufficient width and the parapets low enough, to enable a horse to cross with ease to the other side.

Victoria Mill stands on the outskirts of Bakewell, where an old, Saxon Corn Mill once stood. The mill was used for grinding corn until 1945. The water wheel now looking rather lost in the yard is 25 feet in diameter. The five-arched bridge across the River Wye is one of the best-known landmarks in the Peak. It dates from 1200, is among the oldest in the country, and now designated as an Ancient Monument. From here, you have the choice of two short river walks. The first is to go upstream through meadowland known as Scots Garden passing Holme Hall, a small Jacobean Manor, built in 1626. Then crossing the packhorse bridge, by the side of the sheep dip, and retuning along the A6 to Bakewell. Alternatively you can walk southwards along the banks of the River Wye, where rainbow trout wait to be fed, down to the attractive sports ground and back. Quarter Sessions were once held, at The Old Town Hall, but a riot by lead miners from Great Longstone and other villages in the Peak, put a stop to that and the Sessions were transferred to Derby.

The minersï¿½ indignant at what they thought was unfair treatment, marched to Bakewell when the Quarter Sessions were in progress. They built a great bonfire in front of the courtrooms and ceremonially burnt their army call-up papers. Across from Rutland Square, at the far end of Bath Gardens, is the Bath House. This was for years the home of the famous Derbyshire geologist, White Watson, who acted as a bath superintendent. The Duke of Rutland, who owned the premises, tried to establish Bakewell as a spa town, similar to Buxton and Matlock. The warm water from the natural spring, at only 15 degrees centigrade, was much colder than that of its rivals and the venture failed. Further along the street is The Old Market Hall, which was built as an open-sided market hall. Since those early days, it has seen many uses: as a washhouse, dance hall, library and restaurant. Now it serves as a Tourist Information Centre and holds several interesting exhibitions. Bakewell celebrates its Well Dressings at the end of July each year. Carnival day is the first Saturday in July.

BAKEWELL TRAIL KEY: is an independent, not for profit website. No recommendation of any establishment is implied by inclusion on this website. PLACES OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE LOCALITY Bakewell Old House Museum: (Tel 01629 813642) built in Henry VIIIï¿½s reign, this splendid little museum is packed with interesting exhibits. The museum recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary. For Further information website: Old Market Hall: (Tel 01629 816558) an impressive building that dates back to the 17th century and now accommodates the Tourist Information Centre. Goods produced by members of the Peak Products organisation are attractively displayed for purchase. In addition, if you want something a little different, you can send a postcard to the future as well as acting as landscape detective! Haddon Hall:(Tel 01629 812855) perhaps the most perfect example of a medieval manor house in the country. The gardens are a delight and believed to be the most romantic in Britain, being the setting for the elopement of Dorothy Vernon and John Manners.

For further information website: REFRESHMENTS The Castle Inn (Tel. 01629 812103) is a cosy 16th century pub with stone floors and a beamed ceiling, situated by Bakewellï¿½s medieval bridge. Food available lunchtimes and in the evenings. Seating outside. Accommodation. The Bakewell Pudding Shop Tea Rooms (Tel. 01629 812193) delightful restaurant and shop where you can sample a Bakewell Pudding made to the original recipe. Bakehouse tours can be arranged for parties. Open daily. THE DISCOVER DERBYSHIRE AND THE PEAK DISTRICT GUIDE Provides a wide range of features with heritage trails and detailed countryside walks, through some of the most scenically attractive countryside in the UK. DISCOVER DERBY A special new sub-section has been added to this website, based on the Discover Derby Supplement, published by the Derby Evening Telegraph during March 2005. The most recent additions are: Click below for details.

Discover Derby BAKEWELL WALK This is an exhilarating walk through high pastures and woodland returning along the Monsal Trail to Bakewellï¿½s former railway station. You get the difficult part over with first on the walk, as it climbs steeply up through woodland to Ballcross. After that it becomes much easier, passing over good pasture land where sheep graze. The Moatless Plantation stands on a circular site and was probably a meeting place in Saxon times. The ridge wall along the bridlepath as you begin your walk through Manners Wood, divides the Chatsworth and Rutland Estates. Manners is the Rutland family name. Haddon Hall, a medieval manor house, was the home of the Manners family until 1640. It stood empty and neglected for nearly 300 years before being painstakingly restored. Considered by many to be the most romantic hall in the country, it tells the tale of the elopement of Dorothy Vernon with John Manners. You join The Monsal Trail at Coombs Road viaduct, the eastern terminal of the trail.

The Peak National Park, following the closure of The Midland Railway in 1968, established the footpath. Activities in Bakewell | Bakewell Tweet Activities in Bakewell For the outdoor enthusiast Bakewell must seem like heaven on earth. Because it is the only major town in the Peak District National Park, it is the ideal base from which to enjoy a whole host of open-air activities. Walking in Bakewell If you wish to explore the area on foot there are simply dozens of walks, all centred on the town, and to suit all capabilities, from a flat path along the river bank for those who prefer a gentle stroll admiring the scenery, to more gruelling and taxing routes in the surrounding hills and dales – such as the challenging Monsal Trail. Monsal Trail walking in Bakewell One of the most popular walks takes you through high pastures and woodland returning along the Monsal Trail to Bakewell’s former railway station.

The scenery is stunning and you also take in places of great historic interest, such as ‘The Moatless Plantation‘ which stands on a circular site and was probably a meeting place in Saxon times; Manners Wood, which divides the Chatsworth and Rutland Estates; and Haddon Hall, a medieval manor house, which was the home of the Manners family until 1640. Cycling in Bakewell The Monsal Trail is where the local cycle hire centre is based from which runs four miles of well-laid track. There is one particularly lovely short ride which first follows the Monsal Trail through the Derbyshire countryside, offering splendid views of the River Wye and the Peak District, before returning to Bakewell via Ashford in the Water. In addition there are country lanes and bridleways in abundance – a cyclist’s paradise. An even stiffer physical and mental challenge is provided by the gritstone peaks north of Bakewell. Climbing in Bakewell The gritstone peaks have become a mecca for rock climbers with their routes of escalating difficulty, culminating in the White Peak, which has even steeper rock faces and fewer cracks in which to gain a hand or foot hold.

Climbing has become extremely popular in the peak district and Bakewell is the perfect base for a climbing holiday. Other Bakewell Activities Equestrian lovers are also well catered for at Edwin Mosley’s Haddon House Stud at Monyash Road, Over Haddon, which is just a couple of miles outside Bakewell. Visitors are also more than welcome at Bakewell Golf Club, situated on the hillside to the east of the town. Founded in 1899 it has a testing nine-hole/18-tee course and green fees are moderately priced, although slightly dearer at weekends. Thornbridge Outdoor Centre is run by Sheffield City Council and provides outdoor education for schools, activities for groups, training courses, an event venue, management training and accommodation for weekends in the Peak District.

Leave a Reply Bakewell, Peak District, Derbyshire, Accommodation, Pudding, Market Town A Taste of the Peak District The Peak District, Derbyshire town of Bakewell, B&B, self catering holiday cottage accommodation, hotels, tourist attractions, walking, climbing, mountain biking history, towns, villages, geology, mining, local information, Derbyshire businesses and much more … Eating Out Bakewell is the largest town in the Peak District and is often referred to as as the 'Capital of the Peak District'. It is a market town of Saxon origin and still hosts a regular agricultural market on the purpose built market ground. The architecture of the market building resembles a marquee and looks unusual but not intrusive in this town of traditional stone buildings. The name of Bakewell is believed to originate from 'Badeca’s well'. Bakewell grew up around 3 fords over the river Wye, a short distance south of Ashford-in-the-Water . These fords were eventually superseded by bridges. Holme bridge to the north of the town was originally a pack horse bridge and it dates from the 17th century.

The main bridge in the centre of the town dates back to the 13th century and may have been built wide enough for carts to cross. Both bridges have pedestrian refuges, built atop the 'cutwaters' (ship-shaped bases to the supporting arches designed specifically to allow easy passage of the river water, especially in times of winter floods). There are paths along either side of the river Wye from the main bridge and a favourite pastime of visitors is to feed the many ducks that congregate there. For walkers, Bakewell offers a good base to access the rest of the Peak DIstrict National Park, but there are some decent short walks near Bakewell that are worth an hour or two of your time. Bakewell Church was largely rebuilt during Victorian times but if you look closely there are remnants of earlier versions. For example, the western front is in partially Norman as is the west end of the nave. The eastern part of the church and also the south transept date from the 13th century. The chancel stalls with their misericords and also the font date from the early part of the 14th century.

There is a collection of Saxon carvings which date from the ninth century - it is possible that Bakewell had a school for Saxon carvers. The Saxon crosses in the churchyard were originally placed elsewhere in the parish and were probably used as preaching crosses. Probably the reason that Bakewell is a household name in the UK is the pudding (often incorrectly called a tart) that is named after the town in which it was invented. The pudding was apparently invented by accident at the Rutland Arms Hotel . There are various stories concerning the origin of the pudding, one suggests that the cook misunderstood some instructions and ended up pouring an egg mixture on top of the jam of a jam tart. The visitors complimented the landlady on her unique pudding - so the cook’s job was safe and the Bakewell Pudding was invented. The main Bakewell pudding shop is a charming ‘olde worlde’ building, even if you do not purchase a pudding, it is worth seeking out for its architecture. Other shops also claim to have the original recipe, naturally it is a secret wherever you go! For a recipe for the tart as opposed to the pudding, here is the recipe from the BBC .

The Rutland Arms Hotel is also associated with the writer, Jane Austen. She is reputed to have stayed there whilst writing her novel Pride and Prejudice. Bakewell is quite often a bustling place, especially on market days when travelling the roads hereabouts can be difficult owing to traffic volume, don't expect to get anywhere in a hurry! There are a wide variety of shops, including outdoor clothing shops, supermarkets, two filling stations and a great deli (on the corner by the roundabout). There is also a tourist information centre (like the pudding shop, worth checking out for the architecture), library and small swimming pool plus a good choice of places to eat such as pubs and cafes. The Bakewell car boot sale is worth going to, both as a seller and a buyer. Bakewell is an important cross-roads of the A6 - which carries on northwards to Buxton, Manchester and the Lake District - and the A619 to Baslow, giving access to the North Eastern Peak District, Sheffield and Chesterfield. The railway station is out of the centre of town and is now a business unit.

The line closed down in 1968 and was re-opened as the Monsal Trail about 12 years later. The Monsal Trail follows the track bed of the former Midland Railway Line and now carries foot traffic and cyclists. It was not a particularly satisfying one to follow on a bike as it was discontinuous owing to the number of unsafe tunnels, which were closed to to the public. However, after massive investment, the tunnels were made safe in 2011 and the Monsal trail now offers almost 9 miles of traffic free cycling from Bakewell to Blackwell Halt. A short drive to the south of Bakewell lies Haddon Hall, and Chatsworth Park and House is not far away, making Bakewell a good centre for sightseeing. Accommodation in or close to Bakewell Castle Hill Cottage, Self-Catering, Bakewell - SE of the Peak District sleeps 3,4,5,6 This charming adjoining 18th-century self-catering Derbyshire 4 star holiday cottage, set in its own mature gardens, offers unashamed luxury in Bakewell ... More information or visit Castle Hill Cottage web site..

Corner Cottage, Self-Catering, Bakewell - SE of the Peak District sleeps 1,2,3,4 With views over the church and surrounding countryside, this pretty cottage lies just a short stroll from the centre of Bakewell with its specialist array of shops, pubs and restaurants ... More information or visit Corner Cottage web site.. Dragonfly Cottage, Self-Catering, Bakewell - SE of the Peak District Sleeps 2,3,4,5,6 This beautiful, newly renovated, 300-year-old, detached, stone cottage is located just 350 yards from the heart of Bakewell, yet stands on the top of Fly Hill with its breathtaking views over the River Wye ... More information or visit Dragonfly Cottage web site.. Cokaynes, Harthill Hall, Self-Catering, Bakewell - SE of the Peak District sleeps 5,6,7,8,9,10 Set in a dramatic and varied Peak District National Park setting close to Bakewell ... More information or visit Cokaynes, Harthill Hall web site..

Bagshaw Hall & Sleep Lodge, B&B, Self-Catering Apartment, Bakewell - SE of the Peak District 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14, 15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30 The best features of boutique hotels and holiday apartments in the historic building of Bagshaw Hall, Bakewell ... More information or visit Bagshaw Hall & Sleep Lodge web site.. Total number of accommodation listings: 5 Businesses in Bakewell Other Bakewell trades to follow in due course. Restaurants, Bars and Pubs in or near to Bakewell The History of Bakewell, Derbyshire - BakewellOnline.co.uk The History of Bakewell Set in an enviable location on the banks of the River Wye, in the heart of the Peak District, is the picturesque old market town of Bakewell.

When in 1951, the Peak was the first of the national parks to be set up in England and Wales, Bakewell - the only sizeable market town in the park - was the logical choice as the administrative centre. From its offices at Aldern House, it controls an area of 542 square miles and covers Staffordshire, Cheshire, West and South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester as well as Derbyshire. The population when the park was set up was only 38,000 and has not changed drastically since that day. The Peak Park marked its 50th anniversary in 2001, in what must have been the worst year in its history, due to the foot and mouth epidemic. It is gradually recovering and the hopes are that 2003 will be a bumper year for everyone. Visitors flock to Bakewell in the summer, to shop and explore its many nooks and cranies, to admire its fine buildings, or just relax and feed the ducks by the lovely, clear, sparkling waters of the River Wye. There is more space in the winter, but on a sunny day even, that is limited.

The town is particularly busy every Monday, which is market day, when the stalls and the livestock market, in normal circumstances, do brisk business. Until recently, the livestock market occupied a position near the centre of the town, before moving to its controversial new building on the other side of the river away from the town centre. The strong connection with agriculture is further emphasised every August when the town hosts one of the largest agricultural shows in the country. The two-day event is normally attended by in the region of 35,000 people and despite foot and mouth, it continued in a modified format in 2001. Less than 200 years ago, Bakewell presented a completely different picture with narrow streets and timber framed properties, many of which had thatched roofs. The modern layout of the town only came about in the 19th century. Rutland Square was created and the Rutland Arms replaced the Old White Horse Inn. It was at the Rutland Arms, in about 1860, where the hotel cook misunderstood her instructions and produced the world famous Bakewell Pudding.

Instead of stirring the egg mixture into the pastry, she spread it on top of the jam, which has to this day proved to be a stroke of genius in creating name awareness for the town. The Bakewell Pudding Shop is an interesting place to visit, with information panels and exhibits to view as well as the chance to sample a delicious Bakewell Pudding, not ‘tart’, as some mistakenly call it nowadays. Tours of the Bakehouse can be arranged for parties after closing time. In 1811, Jane Austen, who wrote ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is said to have stayed at the Rutland Arms and incorporated it in her writing. The hotel has even named a suite after her to commemorate the visit. The site, on which All Saints Church stands has been used for worship since Anglo - Saxon times and contains the largest and most varied group of medieval monuments in the United Kingdom. Inside the church, there are many references to the ‘Manners’ and ‘Vernon’ families, the story of the elopement of John Manners and Dorothy Vernon being one of the Peak District’s most romantic tales.

The Olde House Museum is well worth seeking out, hidden away as it is behind the church. Originally a Parsonage, it was later converted into six cottages by Sir Richard Arkwright, another four cottages were accommodated in the adjacent barn, to house his workers at Lumford Mill. It is now one of the best-preserved 15th century houses in the country, but only 50 years ago it was nearly demolished, the local council having served a ‘Demolition Order’. There was an outcry locally and the house was eventually saved and restored to its former glory by the Bakewell Historical Society. It is now a fascinating folk museum worth climbing up the hill to visit. Half way down Bagshaw Hill is Bagshaw Hall the former home of Thomas Bagshaw, who was a solicitor. The house is a pleasing mixture of gritstone and limestone, the town being situated on the edge of both areas. At the bottom of the hill is Arkwright Square, where the cottages housed factory workers. Arkwright’s cotton-spinning factory at Lumford Mill, built about 1782, at its peak employed about 350 people, mainly women and children.

It was sold to the Duke of Devonshire in 1860, but unfortunately, it came to an untimely end when it was burnt down eight years later. After re-building, it continued to operate as a cotton factory to the end of the century. An attractive row of workers’ cottages remains. Downstream is Holme Bridge, dating from 1664, and a former packhorse crossing point. Packhorse leaders coming from the Monyash direction, to avoid paying tolls in the centre of the town used the bridge. Loads of up to two hundred weight were carried in pannier baskets, slung on either side of the horse. The bridge was of sufficient width and the parapets low enough, to enable a horse to cross with ease to the other side. Victoria Mill stands on the outskirts of Bakewell, where an old, Saxon Corn Mill once stood. The mill was used for grinding corn until 1945. The water wheel now looking rather lost in the yard is 25 feet in diameter. The five-arched bridge across the River Wye is one of the best-known landmarks in the Peak.

It dates from 1200, is among the oldest in the country, and now designated as an Ancient Monument. From here, you have the choice of two short river walks. The first is to go upstream through meadowland known as Scots Garden passing Holme Hall, a small Jacobean Manor, built in 1626. Then crossing the packhorse bridge, by the side of the sheep dip, and retuning along the A6 to Bakewell. Alternatively you can walk southwards along the banks of the River Wye, where rainbow trout wait to be fed, down to the attractive sports ground and back. Quarter Sessions were once held, at The Old Town Hall, but a riot by lead miners from Great Longstone and other villages in the Peak, put a stop to that and the Sessions were transferred to Derby. The miners’ indignant at what they thought was unfair treatment, marched to Bakewell when the Quarter Sessions were in progress. They built a great bonfire in front of the courtrooms and ceremonially burnt their army call-up papers. Across from Rutland Square, at the far end of Bath Gardens, is the Bath House.

This was for years the home of the famous Derbyshire geologist, White Watson, who acted as a bath superintendent. The Duke of Rutland, who owned the premises, tried to establish Bakewell as a spa town, similar to Buxton and Matlock. The warm water from the natural spring, at only 15 degrees centigrade, was much colder than that of its rivals and the venture failed. Further along the street is The Old Market Hall, which was built as an open-sided market hall. Since those early days, it has seen many uses: as a washhouse, dance hall, library and restaurant. Now it serves as a Tourist Information Centre and holds several interesting exhibitions. Bakewell celebrates its Well Dressings at the end of July each year. Carnival day is the first Saturday in July. All details on this page were provided by and correct at the time of publication, but changes may be made without notification.

The River Wye - the major tributary of the Derwent The River Wye - the major tributary of the Derwent The River Wye rises in Buxton and flows east via magnificent gorge scenery and limestone dales to reach the River Derwent at Rowsley Additional Links River Wye The River Wye is the major river of the western part of the Peak, rising on Axe Edge above Buxton (as do the Rivers Dove and Manifold, all within the space of a few kilometres) and flowing eastwards through Buxton and Bakewell to join the Derwent at Rowsley. The Wye in Buxton The river goes underground soon after its source and re-emerges in Poole's Cavern to flow down into the town centre of Buxton via Pavilion Gardens. When the 5th Duke of Devonshire built The Crescent between 1780 and 1784 he culverted the river to pass beneath the building, and more recently it has been culverted again to pass beneath the Spring Gardens shopping centre, so little of the river is to be seen in the lower town.

At this stage the river is only a stream, but below Buxton it starts to grow into a sizeable river. Stepping stones in Cheedale Buxton lies in a natural basin scooped out by glaciers, so to emerge from this the river has had to carve a long series of gorges which characterise the section between Buxton and Ashford. Here the river always lies in a deep-cut valley which is often lined with cliffs and is sometimes spectacularly narrow. The first part of the gorges is Ashwood Dale, a narrow tree-lined valley where the main road travels alongside the river, but this is fairly recent because one section was blasted to make room for it. At the end of Ashwood Dale the road leaves the river because the Wye enters Cheedale, with steep cliffs on either side and sections where the lower valley is often difficult to even walk along. This type of scenery continues through similar sections near Miller's Dale and Water-cum-Jolly. Cressbrook Mill This upper part of the valley is punctuated by mills (such as Litton Mill and Cressbrook Mill) and the remains of mills. It is a noted area for walking, climbing and fishing, and birdwatching is also popular.

The scenery is amongst the most impressive in the Peak. Monsal Dale At Cressbrook the river enters Monsal Dale, and finally widens out somewhat, though it still lies in a deep valley. At Monsal Head, it is forced to make a 90-degree turn and carve its way through the limestone ridge to the south, and this point, overlooking a steep-sided partly wooded valley, is one of the most famous viewpoints in the area. After Ashford in-the-Water, a picturesque village lying on the river with some ancient bridges across it - the first significant village since Buxton - the Wye finally seems to begin to relax and widen into a broad river valley leading to Bakewell. This takes it past Haddon Hall and the junction with the Lathkill before flowing on to Rowsley and the junction with the Derwent. Share: Bakewell Walk - Discover Derbyshire and the Peak District BAKEWELL WALK THE WALK This is an exhilarating walk through high pastures and woodland returning along the Monsal Trail to Bakewellï¿½s former railway station. You get the difficult part over with first on the walk, as it climbs steeply up through woodland to Ballcross.

After that it becomes much easier, passing over good pasture land where sheep graze. The Moatless Plantation stands on a circular site and was probably a meeting place in Saxon times. The ridge wall along the bridlepath as you begin your walk through Manners Wood, divides the Chatsworth and Rutland Estates. Manners is the Rutland family name. Haddon Hall, a medieval manor house, was the home of the Manners family until 1640. It stood empty and neglected for nearly 300 years before being painstakingly restored. Considered by many to be the most romantic hall in the country, it tells the tale of the elopement of Dorothy Vernon with John Manners. You join The Monsal Trail at Coombs Road viaduct, the eastern terminal of the trail. The Peak National Park, following the closure of The Midland Railway in 1968, established the footpath. Length: 5 miles. Start/Finish: Bakewell Old Station Yard. Location: Follow A619 through Bakewell, once over the river bridge turn right up the hill, follow the road round as it ascends to the former Railway Station.

Terrain: A steep climb at the start, but after that easy going. THE ROUTE 1. Walk up the hill from the station car park and turn right, opposite a white cottage onto a bridleway leading through the trees and then crossing a golf course on a sunken path. 2. Continue the steep ascent through an area of woodland to a minor road and turn right and within a short distance right again along a bridle lane. 3. Go through a stile and continue ahead with an area of woodland on the left aiming just to the right of a large pond that will soon come into sight and cross a stile into the next field. 4. The path angles slightly to the right, to join a farm track that is difficult to distinguish at first. This leads to a stile by a gate where you continue in the same direction, just passed the corner of a wood, to a ladder stile on the right. 5. Follow the well trodden path through the wood coming out on the other side through a gateway. 6. Follow the track on the left, which soon starts to descend as it twists and turns to meet a junction of tracks. 7.

Take the second track on the right and follow it to the right at the next intersection to go by Bowling Green Farm. Continue down a short section of bridleway before going through a stile gate into a field on the right. 8. Cross three fields keeping close to the fence, before turning left down the farm access road to Haddon Park Farm. 9. Follow the road round as it bends to the right down to the foot of the hill where you turn right onto another bridlepath, with marshland and the River Wye on your left. 10. Follow the path across a long field, angling slightly to the right about two thirds of the way across the field to a stile in the far top corner. Then turn left down a farm lane leading to Coombs Road. 11. On reaching Coombs Road go over the road and climb the steps opposite up onto Monsal Trail, where you turn left, and continue along the trail back to the start of the walk. is an independent, not for profit website. No recommendation of any establishment is implied by inclusion on this website.

PLACES OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE LOCALITY Bakewell Old House Museum: (Tel 01629 813165) built in Henry VIIIï¿½s reign, this splendid little museum is packed with interesting exhibits. The museum recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary. For further information website: Bakewell Old Market Hall: (Tel 01629 816558) an impressive building that dates back to the 17th century and now accommodates the Tourist Information Centre. Goods produced by members of the Peak Products organisation are attractively displayed for purchase. In addition, if you want something a little different, you can send a postcard to the future as well as acting as landscape detective! Haddon Hall:(Tel 01629 812855) perhaps the most perfect example of a medieval manor house in the country. The gardens are a delight and believed to be the most romantic in Britain, being the setting for the elopement of Dorothy Vernon and John Manners. For further information website: REFRESHMENTS The Castle Inn (Tel.

01629 812103) is a cosy 16th century pub with stone floors and a beamed ceiling, situated by Bakewellï¿½s medieval bridge. Food available lunchtimes and in the evenings. Seating outside. Accommodation. The Bakewell Pudding Shop Tea Rooms (Tel. 01629 812193) delightful restaurant and shop where you can sample a Bakewell Pudding made to the original recipe. Bakehouse tours can be arranged for parties. Open daily. THE DISCOVER DERBYSHIRE AND THE PEAK DISTRICT GUIDE Provides a wide range of features with heritage trails and detailed countryside walks, through some of the most scenically attractive countryside in the UK. Return to the Contents Page DISCOVER DERBY A special new sub-section has been added to this website, based on the Discover Derby Supplement, published by the Derby Evening Telegraph during March 2005. The most recent additions are: Click below for details. Discover Derby BAKEWELL FEATURE Set in an enviable location on the banks of the River Wye, in the heart of the Peak District, is the picturesque old market town of Bakewell.

Visitors flock to Bakewell in the summer, to shop and explore its many nooks and cranies, to admire its fine buildings, or just relax and feed the ducks by the lovely, clear, sparkling waters of the River Wye. There is more space in the winter, but on a sunny day even, that is limited. The Bakewell Pudding Shop is an interesting place to visit, with information panels and exhibits to view as well as the chance to sample a delicious Bakewell Pudding, not ï¿½tartï¿½, as some mistakenly call it nowadays. Bakewell | Bakewell Village | Peak District | Derbyshire Bakewell Bakewell - Historic Market Town Bakewell really is a little gem of a village in the heart of the glorious Peak District. The wonderful old buildings, the character cottages, the meandering river with banks of green willow - Bakewell is simply a truly beautiful place. Whether you are here for a day trip, or are staying in a Peak District cottage nearby, sample the delights that Bakewell has to offer. There are pubs, restaurants and eateries galore.

It's the home of the infamous Bakewell pudding, the dessert that went wrong but has now gone so right! Bakewell is a chocolate box town with wildfowl roaming free. The famous Bakewell show is a summer delight and a definite date to pencil in on your calendar. The modern day town is bustling with visitors meeting its charm for the first time, travelling afar from all corners of the globe. It's a trinket box of shopaholic delights with the wonderful River Wye undulating gently under a glorious gothic arched bridge and the ancient church looking on - it's a place visited through past centuries, a small town from the Anglo Saxon era. It's a meeting place for young and old alike, on foot, by pushchair or by car. And with battling bakeries claiming rights to a pudding - how many places in the Peak District can boast that? Once Bakewell has got into your bloodstream, you'll be back - time and time again! About Bakewell The picturesque and historic market town of Bakewell is the largest settlement in the Peak District National Park, and is well known to residents and visitors alike as the `Capital of the Derbyshire Dales.

Indeed, Bakewells Aldern House is the headquarters and administrative centre of the Peak District National Park Authority, and the sympathetically restored seventeenth century Market Hall, with its miniature gables and twin-light mullioned windows is now home to the excellent Peak Park Information and Exhibition Centre. The town has a long and fascinating history; first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1085, `Badequella', meaning `bath-spring' has been attracting visitors for two thousand years ever since the Romans discovered it's warm chalybeate wells, of which there were at least twelve, making it an ideal place for settlement. Little wonder that the Celts and Romans were followed by the Saxons and Danes to this `little wonder'; this virtual paradise beside the pure crystal waters of the Wye, for throughout the rich tapestry of its history, Bakewell has provided an abundance of lifes pleasures for those who have sought solace and beauty in the heart of the delightful Derbyshire Dales countryside.

It still does, and there is `little wonder' that modern 21st century Bakewell has become the most popular and most visited town in the Peak District of Derbyshire, for it provides an ideal base for tourists to explore its numerous attractions, and those in the surrounding landscape. River Wye - Bakewell Fascinating gems there are in abundance, but the jewels in Bakewell's crown must be the River Wye with its gothic five-arched 14th century bridge, one of the oldest in the country. The River Wye is a major river of the western part of the Peak it rises on Axe Edge above Buxton and flows eastwards passing through Buxton and Bakewell to join the Derwent at Rowsley. Bakewell All Saints Church The Parish Church of All Saints at Bakewell, whose fine spire and unusual octagonal tower have been a landmark on the hillside overlooking the town for over six hundred years.

The Saxons built the original church on the site and the Normans added to it, but the present church dates from the 13th & 14th centuries - although a sympathetic major 19th century restoration by Gilbert Scott has added a magnificence to the already beautiful aspect of the structure. Around the porch area are Celtic, Saxon and Norman relics, including a beautifully carved Anglian Cross from the 8th century, whilst inside are fine monuments to the Vernons and Manners of nearby Haddon Hall, and a particularly fine alabaster effigy of Sir Godrey Foljambe. Bakewell Bath Gardens In the centre of the town stand the resplendent Bakewell Bath Gardens , awash with the colour and variety of intricate floral displays throughout the summer, with manicured lawns and seating areas sheltered by ornamental trees adding ambience and atmosphere to the peace and tranquility of the place in the very heart of the bustling market town. The Gardens take their name from a 17th century bath-house which houses an original stone bath, built over the `Warm Well', the main chalybeate well in the town, by the Duke of Rutland in 1697.

The bath-house still stands but is not open to the public, although the water from the well bubbles through an ornamental fountain and fills a large stone trough in the gardens, making an attractive water-feature. The Old House Museum at Bakewell Of the many noteable buildings in the town perhaps the oldest and most interesting, and certainly one with the most fascinating history is the Old House Museum, just off Church Street. Originally built in 1534 by Ralph Gell of Hopton Hall, its owners down the centuries include Sir Richard Arkwright and the Duke of Devonshire. Sixty years ago, with the building in disrepair and with no modern amenities, the local council issued a demolition notice, but in 1954 the Bakewell Historical Society was founded and saved the house from being demolished and spent many years restoring it into today's historic museum. The Old Town Hall The Old Town Hall in King Street was built in 1709, and Bagshaw Hall, north of the churchyard, is probably a century earlier than its 1684 restoration by Thomas Bagshaw. The Rutland Arms is a large handsome Georgian Coaching Inn standing on the corner of Rutland Square in the town centre.

It was built to replace the old White Horse Inn which had become inadequate to cater for the increasing number of visitors to the town. One of its first guests was novelist Jane Austen who stayed here in 1811, and based the fictional town of Lambton in `Pride & Prejudice' on her impressions of Bakewell. Bakewell Pudding Of course, Bakewell is famous the world over for the culinary delights of its Bakewell Puddings - not Tarts, thank you very much Mr Kipling! The original recipe remains a guarded secret, and is kept in a safe at Ye Olde Original Bakewell Pudding Shop in the town, from where Bakewell Puddings are sent all over the world. Modern Bakewell has something for everyone, and everything for someone, from its many historic buildings and its wonderful riverside walks along the banks of the Wye, to its award-winning newly designed and recently revamped town centre with shopping arcades and numerous emporiums of excellence.

Bakewell Today In recent years the town had added a modern swimming pool, a new Public Library, and a completely renovated and attractively landscaped riverside area, with a new metal footbridge across the river to its wealth of cafes, tea-shops, restaurants, bistros and friendly pubs. Bakewells success is based on its beautiful location in the Wye Valley and its function as a centre for commerce, agriculture and tourism. Its Market Charter was granted in 1330, and there is an open market in the town every Monday, whilst the Cattle Market is one of the largest in the county, and held these days in the award-winning Agricultural Business Centre across the river. The famous Bakewell Show is held every August on the Showground across the river; inaugerated as a mainly local show in 1819, it has since grown out of all proportion into one of England's Premier Country Shows, with regular crowds of around fifty thousand - weather permitting!

Haddon Hall, barely a mile away down the valley is regarded as the finest medieval Manor House in England, and is a seat of the Duke of Rutland, whilst the Duke of Devonshire's splendid Chatsworth House, known as the Palace of the Peak, stands sedately beside the Derwent less than three miles away. Bakewell has a golf course to the east of the town accessible from Station Road, whilst also accessible from the Old Station car park nearby is the Monsal Trail. The Trail was once the main railway line to Buxton and Manchester, but now provides one of the most scenic of walks both beside the Wye, and through some of the most picturesque of dales landscapes all the way to Miller's Dale - and best of all, it's free! For Bakewell Holiday Accommodation please click here Bakewell Video Bakewell, Derbyshire ? Bakewell's medieval bridge There was a fortified town at this ford on the River Wye in Saxon times, built in the early 10th century by Edward the Elder, but a Roman altar found at nearby Haddon Hall suggests that there was a Roman presence in the area long before Edward's time.

Even before Edward ordered Bakewell to be fortified there was a church in the town, founded in 920. Two Saxon crosses in the churchyard probably predate the church, and further Saxon stonework can be seen in the church. The current church building is largely a product of the 13th century, and it boasts a lovely 14th century tower and spire. In the church interior are fine monuments to the Vernon family of Haddon Hall. The name 'Bakewell' betrays the town's origins; In the Domesday Book of 1086 Bakewell was called "Badequella", or "Bath well", a reference to the natural mineral springs are common in this area of Derbyshire. There are still two springs in Bakewell, one in Bath Street, and the other at Holywell, in the town recreation grounds. Every August the wells are "dressed" in a traditional ceremony that probably dates back to the pre-Christian era. St John's Hospital (Bakewell Almshouses) There is a musical procession to the well, and the well head is decorated with colourful blossoms and artwork.

It is thought that the practice is a form of ancient fertility rite, though now it owes more to promoting tourism than any sense of linkage to the past. Richard Arkwright chose Bakewell as the site of a cotton mill in 1777, and the resulting prosperity changed the character of the town. Today very little of medieval Bakewell remains, and the town has a decidedly Georgian and Victorian flavour. The early 14th century bridge across the Wye still stands as does 17th century Bagshaw Hall. The Old House Museum, close by the church, houses a local history museum in one of the few remaining medieval buildings in town. The Old House was adapted by Richard Arkwright for his workers, and you can trace the history of how the house changed and how the mill-workers used the building. Also near the church is St John's Hospital, not a hospital in the modern sense, but a row of almshouses built in 1709 on the site of earlier almshouses founded in 1597 by Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury.

The Manners family, Dukes of Rutland, maintained the almshouses for over 200 years, until 1920. The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop Bakewell is also the home of the Peak District National Park administration, with offices in Baswell Road. The town makes an excellent centre for exploring the Peak District. BAKEWELL PUDDING The delicious concoction that bears Bakewell's name came about as the result of an accident in 1859. Apparently a cook at the White Horse inn, now demolished, was making jam tarts and almond cake at the same time. She mistakenly poured half of the cake mixture into the prepared jam tart crust. Not wishing to throw out the unintentional mix, she popped it in the oven. The result was Bakewell Pudding, which proved an instant success. Several Bakewell bakeries claim to produce the original Bakewell Pudding. Perhaps none has a better claim than the The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop on The Square, which has been selling the puddings since 1865.

The shop was founded by Mrs Wilson, wife of a tallow candle maker, who bought the original recipe and launched the shop from the 17th century building her family rented from the Dukes of Rutland. All puddings are hand-made, using the still-secret recipe. There is also a traditional Bakewell Tart, made with cake crumbs. About Bakewell

Question: What is the name of the river on which Bakewell stands?
Answer: WYE