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Bakewell
Bakewell is often referred to as being the capital of the Peak District,
the name believed to have derived from ‘Badeca’s Well’ or possibly
‘Badequella’ meaning ‘Bath Well.’ The town lies on the River Wye and
the cross-roads of the A6 - which continues north to Buxton, Manchester
and the Lake District - and the A619 to Baslow,
laying way to the North Eastern Peak District, Sheffield and
Chesterfield. The town is full of history and some wonderful old stone
buildings and bridges – the Romans and the Saxons have all played a
part in the construction.
The local church was founded in 920 and has been modified and rebuilt ever since, its last major work being done in the 1840s.
Bakewell is most famous for being the birthplace of the Bakewell
Tart – which, technically, is a pudding. It was invented at the Rutland
Arms Hotel (1859) which is worth a visit if for nothing more than to
observe its interesting architecture. The recipe varies slightly from
store to store, each claiming to have the original secrets – in any
case, you can be sure it’ll taste good! Jane Austin stayed here in 1811
and the hotel makes an appearance in Pride and Prejudice.
This has
been a market town for centuries, with the first market being recorded
in 1254 and continuing up to now with a flourishing cattle market and
stores every Monday.
There are lots and lots of lovely pubs and
restaurants in the area – just off the river lie the Queen’s Arms and
the Peacock Inn and nearby are the Wheatsheaf, The Castle Inn and
Bridge House. Around the corner in the square are the Rutland Arms
(mentioned above), the Red Lion and The Manners. Most of them offer
interesting beers and ales other than your standard Carlsberg and
Fosters, almost all of them offer meals and many of them offer
accommodation. There are no less than 26 B&B establishments in the
town.
Bakewell Primary School, St Anselm’s Primary School, Bakewell Methodist Junior School, Bakewell Infant’s School, Bakewell Church of England School as well as Adult Education Facilities are among the main educational facilities in the area.
Over 70 small businesses operate in Bakewell,
many of them relying on tourist pounds but many others servicing the
needs of the local population. There’s a large Co-Op supermarket and
Boots nearby too.
The town is a thriving, bustling place that
feels peaceful and safe. There’s always something nice to do and plenty
of nice shops and pubs to visit.
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