Darley Dale

This straggling village along the main road north from Matlock dates only from the 19th century, and was created out of several smaller settlements, three of them being Darley Bridge, Darley Hillside and South Darley. Indeed, Darley is mentioned in the Domesday Book as ‘Derelie’, showing that the name at least is ancient. The all-encompassing ‘Darley Dale’ was either devised by the commercially-minded railway company at work in the area or by the romantically-inclined vicar of the parish. Darley Dale makes up one of three stops on the Matlock-to-Rowsley South Peak Rail line.

One of the most unassuming heroines of this part of Derbyshire must be Lady Louisa Whitworth. She was the second wife of Sir Joseph Whitworth, the famous Victorian engineer whose name is associated with the Great Exhibition of 1851 and who invented the screw thread. Sir Joseph made a fortune manufacturing, amongst other items, machine tools, munitions and nuts and bolts. Following his death in 1887, Lady Louisa brought sweeping changes to the lifestyle of the local poor and needy. She allowed the grounds of her home, Stancliffe Hall, to be used for school outings and events. In 1889, the Whitworth Cottage Hospital was opened under her auspices.

The Whitworth Institute was opened in 1890, bringing to the community a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool (the first heated pool in Britain), an assembly hall, a natural history museum and a library. At a time when a woman was required to take a secondary role in society, Lady Louisa was determined to credit her late husband with these changes, which so benefited Darley Dale. Lady Whitworth died in France in 1896, and is buried next to her husband at the Parish Church of St Helen, in the hamlet of Churchtown. The church as we see it today dates from at least the 12th century, and has the tomb of Sir John de Darley dating from 1322. It also contains two fine examples of Burne-Jones stained glass windows.

A tree that can be seen at the top of Oker Hill is a lobe sycamore, and an unusual tale is attached to it.  It seems that two brothers planted sycamore trees at the same time. One tree flourished, just as the brother who planted it did, while the other one died, just like the other brother, who died soon after. A different tale claims that a local man named Shore planted the twin trees to provide in due course of time, the wood for his coffin! William Wordsworth, passing through Darley in 1838 on his way to Dovedale was sufficiently inspired by the legend that he composed a sonnet about it called ‘The Keepsake’.

Much of the stone used for local buildings came from nearby Stancliffe Quarry, which also supplied stone for the Thames Embankment and Hyde Park Corner in London, and the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. To the north of the 15th century Darley Bridge, which carries the road to Winster over the River Derwent, are the remains of Mill Close Mine. This was the largest and most productive lead mine in Derbyshire until 1938, when flooding caused it to be abandoned.

Darley Dale has an extensive park that is very pretty in all seasons. Another of this small village’s attractions is the Red House Stables Working Carriage Museum, featuring some fine examples of traditional horse-drawn vehicles and equipment. One of the finest collections in the country, it consists of nearly 40 carriages, including one of the very few surviving Hansom cabs, a stage coach, Royal Mail coach, Park Drag and many other private and commercial vehicles. Carriage rides are available, making regular trips through the countryside to places such as Chatsworth and Haddon Hall, and the carriages and horses can be hired for special occasions.