PEAK VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTRE VISITOR GUIDE
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Location: On the B6012 Rowsley to Chatsworth Road, off the A6 between Matlock and Bakewell – SK257662.
Visit: Edensor is off the B6012 road through Chatsworth Park, a few yards west of the drive to Chatsworth House (SK250698). It is unique in style and provides the first-time visitor with an experience they will never forget. It is in a walled enclosure in an attractive parkland setting owned by the Chatsworth House Trust on behalf of the Cavendish family. With its fine buildings and majestic-looking church, the village is a beautiful place to explore. . The 4th Duke of Devonshire had spent considerable money and effort improving the house gardens and building a new bridge over the river. So, he decided to demolish the houses visible from his home. The tenants were safely re-housed in the nearby estate villages of Pilsley and Beeley before demolition work commenced. Unfortunately, the Duke died in 1764 before the completion of the work. The 6th Duke completed the building of the present village. where the designs range from Norman to Jacobean, Swiss-style to Italian villas. A few old houses remained virtually untouched.
Refreshments: Breakfast, lunch, or speciality coffee to enjoy at Peak Village. The Gouse and Claret Public House is only a few yards away and is open all day for refreshments.
Chatsworth: There are so many things to see and do when visiting Chatsworth. Enjoy the House’s elegant interior and one of the finest art collections in Europe. The gardens are magnificent, with the Emperor Fountain as the centrepiece. From early November every year, the House takes on a magical experience when dressed for Christmas. Children are well catered for with a play area and farmyard to visit. Chatsworth Park is free to visit, and events take place all year round.
PEAK VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTRE
Rowsley Station, now the Peak District Shopping Village, was very popular with tourists and welcomed hundreds of visitors bound for Chatsworth. They usually completed their journeys by horse-drawn carriage. A railway station was built in the early 1900s with Joseph Paxton’s impressive Italianate Station as a centrepiece. Unfortunately, there was a problem. The Duke of Devonshire was adamant that he would not allow the line across Chatsworth Park, and the railway station never fulfilled its intended purpose.
Today, the site of the old station is home to the Peak Village Shopping Centre, where, from the moment you arrive, you cannot help but be impressed by its superb location in beautiful countryside. Here, you can enjoy browsing well-known brands, independent shops and local makers. Take time for refreshment and do not forget to have a look at Paxton’s Italianate Railway Station.
Joseph Paxton, at the age of 20, was offered the position of head gardener at Chatsworth and proceeded to redesign the gardens. He stayed in his post at Chatsworth but took on many other projects, working on the layout of public parks. However, Paxton is probably most famous for designing the ‘Crystal Palace’ for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Despite initial press cynicism, it was a great success, and Queen Victoria knighted him.
Peak Village hosts regular free events, pop-ups, and live music. The Nature Reserve leads directly off the car park and is open throughout the changing seasons. It, together with the beautiful scenery and spacious layout of the shopping village, makes it a unique place to visit.
In 2021, the Devonshire Group, comprising the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire’s interests, charities and businesses throughout the UK and Ireland, including Chatsworth, acquired Peak Village. A subsidiary company has been specifically established to manage, invest in and revitalise the Peak Shopping Village as part of a long-term commitment to the local area and its economy by the Devonshire Group.
