Bakewell in the Peak District National ParkBakewell in Derbyshire and the Peak District National Park , is a beautiful, small, market town situated on the River Wye which is crossed by a 13th century 5 arched bridge still open to traffic. The bridge had been widened in the 19th century. Bakewell was mentioned in the Domeday book as having a church and 2 priests signifying its importance even then. In 1502 Bakewell was owned by the Vernon family and passed on to the Manners family in 1567 when Dorothy Vernon married John Manners. Their son, Sir George Manners married Grace Pierrepont who in 1637 founded the grammer school, Lady Manners School. Monuments to the Vernon family can be found in the All Saints Parish Church which stands in a commanding position on the hillside where the town started. All Saints Parish Church is broad and low and has an octagonal tower with a graceful spire. The bulk of the church as it stands now dates from the 13th and 14th centuries, though there are many fragments of Saxon and Norman Stonework to be found. It was considerably restored in the 19th century, when the nave was rebuilt. The south transept holds the Vernon Chapel with monuments to Vernon and Manners families, including splendid ones to John Manners and Dorothy Vernon, and Sir George Manners, father of the 8th Earl of Rutland , and his wife Grace. There is also a remarkable monument to Sir Godfrey Foljambe and his wife, in the south aisle, dated about 1377 and set in alabaster with coats of arms above. Outside the church is the remains of a Saxon Cross. The Rutland Arms Hotel in the centre of Bakewell replaced the White Horse Inn, which together with some other buildings was demolished in 1805 to form Rutland Square. It was built to cater for coach travellers and in 1818 as many as 600 travellers passed through the town. The Hotel has a literary connection in that Jane Austin is reputed to have stayed at the hotel whilst writing Pride and Predudice. Bakewell has been identified as Lambton. The famous Bakewell pudding was also invented accidentally at the Hotel, when a cook misinterpreted instructions and poured egg mixture over the jam instead of mixing it in the pastry and what should have been a tart was now a pudding. Bakewell puddings can be bought at several shops in the town centre. In 1826 the cattle market was moved from the present Rutland Terrace to the market place to enable coaches to pass through the town centre withot delay. A new Agricultural Business Centre across the river now incorporates the livestock market but there are still stall markets held here every Monday. Horse sales also use to take place in front of the Castle Hotel but finished at the time of world war 1. Bakewell tourist information centre is housed in the Old Market Hall. The lower part of this building had been open and the upper part a closed room. The upper floor was removed in 1858 and the gaps in the lower part filled in. It has been in constant use by the community as the town hall, wash house, school, magistrates court and library over the years. The old town hall built in 1709 is situated in King Street. It is now an antiques shop but between 1826 and 1874 it was occupied by Lady Manners School. In later years it has been used as a fish and game shop and the upper floor was used by the local Working mens club from 1885 until 1964. Behind the Old Town Hall in Bakewell are the Almshouses of St John's Hospital also dating from 1709. In 1697 the Duke of Rutland built the Bath House in Bath Gardens, over the bath, with is fed by warm spa waters, in an attempt to rivel Buxton as a health resort. The pool was later rebuilt and exists in the cellar of Haig house which presently houses the British Legion social club. Well Dressing and carnival events take place in the week up to the first saturday in July which is carnival day. The Bakewell Show takes place on the first wednesday and thursday of August on land adjoining the Agricultural Centre. The first local show took place in 1819. It is now a major agricultural and horticultural event with all sorts of animals being shown along with show jumping and exhibitions of local crafts and produce. Lumford Mill was established in 1777 by Sir Richard Arkwright for the purpose of cotton spinning. He also bult new houses and converted a house in Cunningham Place, which sits behind the church and dates from early Tudor times, into 5 dwellings for his mill workers. This house was restored by the Bakewell Historical Society in 1955 and is now known as Old House Museum. The museum houses 14 beamed rooms including a drapers shop, a Victorian kitchen, a wheelwright and a smithy. Other rooms have Ashford Marble, lace, toys, china and photographs. It is open from the 1st of April until the end of October from 1-30pm to 4-oopm( 11.00am in July and August). Guides are always at hand to answer questions and the museum also organizes talks and visits. Tel 01629 813165 for more information. The Castle Inn on Castle Street, previously called the Commercial and Castle, is a 16th century inn by Bakewell's medieval bridge which entertained a regular horse market for over 100 years. It's three garages were formally stables and the present stone flagged floor and wooden beams give the pub a warm and cosy feeling. The Peacock near the Tourist Information Centre was built in the 19th century. The peacock is the family crest of the Manners family ( the Dukes of Rutland) of Haddon Hall. The Red Lion situated in The Square, is thought to originally have been a timber framed 16th century inn.
For seasonal walks around Bakewell try The Bakewell Tree Trail
For some excellent photographs of Bakewell please visit Derbyshire and Peak District Photographs |
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