Between Devonshire and Rutland ...

Rowsley sits astride the A6 between Bakewell and Matlock and a mile from the grand medieval manor of Haddon Hall owned by the Duke of Rutland, who until relatively recently owned most of the village too - and about three and a half miles south west of Chatsworth House, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.

The Unification of Rowsley

Rowsley is situated at the junction of the two valleys of the Rivers Derwent and Wye, and bisected by both the Derwent and the main A6 trunk road giving the impression of two separate settlements. Indeed, Great Rowsley on the west bank of the Derwent and Little Rowsley on the east, existed side by side until the two were amalgamated in a local government reshuffle of April 1987 when the County Council decided that two into one would go and Great & Little Rowsley became known officially, collectively and simply as ‘Rowsley’.

Early Settlement

There was an Anglo-Saxon settlement here before the Norman Conquest, and in the Domesday Survey ‘Rowesley’ is mentioned as an outlier of the Royal Manor of Bakewell, occupying the ‘tongue of fertile land between the Derwent and the Wye’. Nearby, on Stanton Moor and also on Beeley Moor, there is evidence for even earlier settlement, going back at least to the Bronze Age stone circles and burial mounds.



The Bridge Over the River Derwent

The oldest surviving structure in the village is the bridge over the River Derwent which was originally a fifteenth century packhorse bridge, widened to carry increasingly motorised traffic in 1925.

Architecture of Rowsley

However, there are some architectural gems from the ‘Great Rebuilding’ period of the 17th and early 18th centuries. The most splendidly prominent of these is undoubtedly the magnificent Peacock Hotel whose visitors’ book includes the names of many famous guests, including royalty, who have enjoyed a brief sojourn in the luxuriant surroundings since it became a hostelry in 1828. The house was built in 1652 by John Stevenson of Elton, agent to the Derbyshire Manners Family and served as a Dower House and later as a farmhouse before it became an inn.

The stables at the rear were built towards the end of the seventeenth century, whilst Ivy House, standing directly opposite The Peacock was built a year earlier in 1651. Other notable dwellings include The Beeches and Holly House, built in 1710 as one dwelling. This was thought to have been the Manor House and was the home of Sir Francis Darwin until the property was divided at the end of the nineteenth century.

Rowsley and the Railway

The railway arrived in 1849 with the opening of the impressive Italianate station designed by Sir Joseph Paxton. But further construction of the line which was intended to run via Buxton to Manchester was held up when the Duke of Devonshire refused permission to extend the track up the Derwent Valley through Chatsworth Park, and then the Duke of Rutland objected to a secondary plan to route the track up the Wye Valley. Eventually the Duke of Rutland agreed to the Midland Railway’s plans on condition that the track passed unseen behind Haddon Hall in a covered cutting and thus the line was routed up the Wye Valley – leaving the newly built gem of Paxton’s station marooned in the wrong valley!

Image: disused railway bridge at Rowsley.

Caudwell's Mill Craft centre and Flour Mill

Largely hidden behind a cluster of buildings which include Mill House and Bank House stands the famous Caudwell’s Mill and Craft Centre. John Caudwell founded this water-powered flour mill on the Wye in 1874. As well as the craft stuff and cafe, there is a wide variety of flour on sale.

Another attraction of Rowsley is the Peak Village retail park on land which was once occupied by the old railway station. Paxton’s Italianate gem of a station now stands proudly at the centre of the retail park and perhaps symbolises a new era of regenerated hope for Rowsley.

 

To find the Peak Village shopping centre ...

From Matlock take the A6 towards Bakewell. Go through Darley Dale (40mph and speed cameras) towards Rowsley. At the sharp left hand bend, take the middle lane and turn right as if you are going to Chatsworth House. The entrance to Peak Village is on the left about 100 metres or so after you have turned.

From Bakewell, take the A6 towards Matlock. Pass through Rowsley and at the sharp right hand bend after you have crossed the river, turn left as if you are going to Chatsworth House. The entrance to Peak Village is on the left about 100 metres or so after you have turned.

Condensed from Tom Bates Insider's Guides to Peak District Villages.



Tourist Information for the Rowsley area

Nearest Tourist Information Centres (please verify opening times independently, we think they are right but would hate you to turn up and find the places closed!):

Chesterfield
Tourist Information Centre
Rykneld Square
Chesterfield
S40 1SB
Tel: 01246 345777/8
Fax: 01246 345770
E-mail: tourism@chesterfield.gov.uk
Website: www.visitchesterfield.info

Opening times:

Mon 2 Apr 2007 - Sat 27 Oct 2007 Mon - Sat 09:00 to 17:30
Mon 29 Oct 2007 - Sat 15 Mar 2008 Mon - Sat 09:00 to 17:00

Sells a range of tickets - from theatre seats to coaches and trains.

Matlock Tourist Information Centre
Crown Square
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 3AT
Tel: 01629 583388
Fax: 01629 584131
email: matlockinfo@derbyshiredales.gov.uk

Accommodation near Rowsley

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A Short Circular Walk from Rowsley

From the distinctive lamp post close to Caudwell's Mill, cross the A6 and walk steeply up Church Lane. Where the buildings finish, follow the track. This angles uphill past some fields. It turns right and steepens. After a hundred yards or so, follow the main track to the left (flatter ground!!). At a junction of tracks, it is possible to take a bridleway onto the Chatsworth estate, however, our little walk follows the track round to the left. Ignore the track to the right that descends to Bakewell. At a T-junction with another track, turn left and follow Park Lane back down to the A6. Here, you can walk alongside the A6 back to Rowsley.

Cycling from Rowsley

There is a cycleway from Rowsley to Matlock, starting at Rowsley South Station.

Peak Rail

Peak Rail run services between Rowsley station and Matlock. Rowsley station has plenty of parking and good facilities with excellent accessibility.