MELBOURNE TO MIDDLETON TOP
A TO Z – DERBYSHIRE AND THE PEAK DISTRICT – CHAPTER 29
MELBOURNE (off the B587 Stanton-by-Bridge Road – SK386253)
Set among pleasant rolling countryside in South Derbyshire is the fascinating little town of Melbourne. It has a wealth of historic buildings, a famous country house with formal gardens and one of the finest Norman churches in the country. A 20-acre pool, where you can feed the ducks or rest awhile, completes the idyllic scene.
Market gardening was once an essential feature of the area. The good loamy soil and relatively frost-free north-facing slopes enabled Melbourne to become a centre for the supply of fruit and vegetables several centuries ago. Increased competition has reduced its significance, but there is still ample evidence of its presence in the area.
It was in a small cottage in Quick Close, off High Street, in 1808, that Thomas Cook was born. His name is now recognised worldwide for the travel company he founded. At the age of 28, he moved to Leicester to work for the Baptist Church.
His first organised trip was to transport passengers by rail from Leicester to Loughborough and back again. The 570 passengers attended a temperance rally at the cost of one shilling each. It was successful, as were other trips, and the railway company asked him to organise excursions. Cook then went into business on a full-time basis, marking the beginning of what would become an internationally renowned business, which ultimately closed in 2019. The cottage where he was born has been demolished. But the almshouses he built in Melbourne remain as a lasting memorial, along with a special garden dedicated to him.
MELBOURNE HALL
Melbourne Hall, with its fine furniture and paintings, was the birthplace of Lord Melbourne. He was Queen Victoria’s first Prime Minister, who gave his name to a small settlement on the River Yarra – Yarra, which is now Australia’s second city.
The design of the hall gardens was undertaken by William III’s gardeners, London and Wise, who succeeded in a comparatively small area in creating deceptively spacious gardens. Focal points are Robert Bakewell’s great wrought iron domed cage, known as ‘The Birdcage’ and an elaborate monument by Van Nost, which illustrates the Four Seasons. The yew tunnel is reputed to be the longest in Europe.
MELBOURNE – PARISH CHURCH
The Church of St Michael’s with St Mary at Melbourne comes as something of a surprise to most new visitors who did not expect to find one of the largest Norman churches in England in such a small place. The church dates to 1133 when Henry I gave the royal manor of Melbourne to the first Bishop of Carlisle. At that time, Carlisle was on the edge of what was then referred to as the heathen north, and the bishop needed somewhere to retreat when the Scots overran the town. The roof was raised and the windows enlarged in the 19th century. The old roof marks are visible from the southeast. In the north aisle hang the flags of Melbourne and Australia, Lord Melbourne having lent his name to the former.
MIDDLETON TOP (situated at the top of Middleton Incline on the High Peak Trail)
A short distance from Middleton-by-Wirksworth at Middleton Top is a restored engine house. Built in 1829, it was initially used to haul wagons up the incline. Although those days have long since passed, it can still be seen in motion on selected dates between April and October.
It is the sole survivor of nine that once stood at the top of every incline along the Cromford and High Peak Railway. Derbyshire County Council is now the custodian of this important piece of our railway heritage, visited by enthusiasts from all over the world. The site has a visitor centre, gift shop, cycle hire centre, car park, toilets, and picnic area. Whether on foot, horse, or bike, it is an ideal place to start your visit along the beautiful High Peak Trail.
