Marvellous Matlock Bath
Matlock Bath is one place that I will never tire of visiting. Although, as a teenager, I must confess that I came pretty close to it!
The place in itself brings back many memories for me since there were many Saturdays spent there as a girl and young woman. Some recollections I have aren't technically of the place itself, but the funny mistakes that my sister used to make as a young child with the pronunciation of "Matlock".
Many was the time that we walked from Matlock into Matlock Bath and back again. How I hated that walk at the time... yet i would give anything to be able to walk it once again now.
The place in itself brings back many memories for me since there were many Saturdays spent there as a girl and young woman. Some recollections I have aren't technically of the place itself, but the funny mistakes that my sister used to make as a young child with the pronunciation of "Matlock".
Many was the time that we walked from Matlock into Matlock Bath and back again. How I hated that walk at the time... yet i would give anything to be able to walk it once again now.
A Rest for the weary...
Having searched all over town to find some functioning toilets, we were more than happy to finally find not only toilets, but somewhere to rest our tired legs as well... especially when the resting place happens to have this fountain in the middle of it. The only snag was that the sound of the running water wasn't really very helpful to those who have full bladders on their approach to the only functioning toilets in town!
I once read an interesting story on this fountain that claims that when the fountain was designed, it wasn't designed with the idea that it should grow moss on it's tiers in mind. The fact that this happens is supposed to be a mistake as opposed to something that was planned for. However, given that just about every fountain in town has moss growing in it somewhere, I think that it fits in quite well with the common theme.
I once read an interesting story on this fountain that claims that when the fountain was designed, it wasn't designed with the idea that it should grow moss on it's tiers in mind. The fact that this happens is supposed to be a mistake as opposed to something that was planned for. However, given that just about every fountain in town has moss growing in it somewhere, I think that it fits in quite well with the common theme.
It's hard to tell what it is supposed to be from this angle!
Unfortunately, the fountain hasn't stood the years of weathering that it's suffered all that well and its difficult to accurately tell what it is a sculpture of from this angle.
Finally, it becomes clear!
It's only when you look at the fountain from this angle and on this tier that you really get a feel for what the sculpture is. I have to admit that I first found the idea of gold pans being associated with this area a little strange... I mean, although we are in a mining area, gold wasn't something that was mined here.
I then took the time to remember something that my husband told me on several occasions. He often said that my father in law was a spar miner. I realised at that point that i know next to nothing about the mineral that my father in law would have mined, so I took a little time to Google it since my father in law isn't here to ask anymore.
I found out that spar is made up from several soft minerals, which are prone to breaking... which would explain why they would need to pan dirt in an area that isn't typically associated with gold and as a result of that, why gold pans wouldn't have been out of place in the history of the area.
I then took the time to remember something that my husband told me on several occasions. He often said that my father in law was a spar miner. I realised at that point that i know next to nothing about the mineral that my father in law would have mined, so I took a little time to Google it since my father in law isn't here to ask anymore.
I found out that spar is made up from several soft minerals, which are prone to breaking... which would explain why they would need to pan dirt in an area that isn't typically associated with gold and as a result of that, why gold pans wouldn't have been out of place in the history of the area.
A hint to where the moss above might have come from...
Given that Matlock Bath is literally in a valley between 2 hills, it is pretty obvious that moss is something that could either be embraced as something that is part of the town or seen as a problem plant. Since it is almost everywhere, I see it as something that really adds to the character of the town.
To understand how the moss came to be on the upper tiers of the fountain, we need to know that moss is a non flowering plant that reproduces using spores, which means that the moss would have spawned from the bottom of the fountain upwards... presumably over the time frame of at least a couple of years.
To understand how the moss came to be on the upper tiers of the fountain, we need to know that moss is a non flowering plant that reproduces using spores, which means that the moss would have spawned from the bottom of the fountain upwards... presumably over the time frame of at least a couple of years.
Make a wish
The fountain is used as a wishing fountain. It is one of the more uncommon ones that I have seen, though, with many such fountains often being safely inside shopping malls or other high traffic areas where people stealing from them are more likely to be caught right away.
The only other outdoor wishing fountain that I have ever seen took the shape of a huge, man made waterfall (sadly, this has now been filled in)... and that had huge safety rails in front of it so that the only way that a potential thief could get in was by climbing over 3 feet of fencing so the fact that even a toddler could easily step over the guard rail for this fountain is a novel concept for me.
The only other outdoor wishing fountain that I have ever seen took the shape of a huge, man made waterfall (sadly, this has now been filled in)... and that had huge safety rails in front of it so that the only way that a potential thief could get in was by climbing over 3 feet of fencing so the fact that even a toddler could easily step over the guard rail for this fountain is a novel concept for me.
Don't blow it yet!
This dandelion was taken as part of a challenge that I was issued to try to look at things from a different angle. Of course, the more obvious route that i would have taken was to shoot it from the top downwards... after all, who doesn't approach photography face on?
This time, I decided to go from the bottom up, though... fortunately, I had the assistance of my front facing camera on the iPod to ensure that I got the angling that I was hoping for with the shot - although, there was a price to pay in that the original image doesn't look quite like this.
This time, I decided to go from the bottom up, though... fortunately, I had the assistance of my front facing camera on the iPod to ensure that I got the angling that I was hoping for with the shot - although, there was a price to pay in that the original image doesn't look quite like this.
Who's making a splash?
This is about the third or fourth time that I attempted to catch the boats because it was dropping cold by now and my hands and arms didn't quite want to function in the way that my mind was telling them to... with that said though, one of the mistake shots also added an interesting contribution to my library.
The angling of the shot isn't something that i'd have necessarily have gone with that day, but, as my luck would have it, I was standing in front of a metal gate that was locked and I had to slide my arms and the camera through a gap in order to shoot the picture so I couldn't be too choosy about it at the end of the day.
Looking at the picture again just now, I find myself noticing the ducks swimming by in the background. This was something that I missed at the time of shooting the image because I was so focused on getting the boats themselves and feeling annoyed that I couldn't get away from the red life ring box that you can see through the bush to the far left of the image.
The angling of the shot isn't something that i'd have necessarily have gone with that day, but, as my luck would have it, I was standing in front of a metal gate that was locked and I had to slide my arms and the camera through a gap in order to shoot the picture so I couldn't be too choosy about it at the end of the day.
Looking at the picture again just now, I find myself noticing the ducks swimming by in the background. This was something that I missed at the time of shooting the image because I was so focused on getting the boats themselves and feeling annoyed that I couldn't get away from the red life ring box that you can see through the bush to the far left of the image.
There are some beautiful waterfalls...
...Some are pretty obvious, like this one, which I like because of the simplicity of it. While I appreciate the fact that it could be man made, it's not one of those waterfalls that clearly screams "I am man made" so it's something that offers you a chance to half marvel at the beauty of Mother Nature at Her finest.
At the same time, I find myself wondering where the water that feeds it is coming from... after all, there's nothing obvious to suggest a source and it would require a seriously huge pump to pump enough water to power this to the top of the waterfall.
At the same time, I find myself wondering where the water that feeds it is coming from... after all, there's nothing obvious to suggest a source and it would require a seriously huge pump to pump enough water to power this to the top of the waterfall.
Some are also less obvious
This sneaky little waterfall is hard to spot hiding among the greenery there... fortunately, I had my mum around to point it out to me as a young girl - especially as I could hear running water, but couldn't work out where it was coming from at the time.
It didn't help matters that I happened to need the toilet at the time I passed by it back then either!
It didn't help matters that I happened to need the toilet at the time I passed by it back then either!
Travelling the path less beaten
Sometimes, it can be nice to head off the beaten track if you get a chance to do so without damaging any of the foliage around where you want to explore. I was able to do just that and right at the end of my journey, I found these two ducks enjoying their day.
I could've spent all day here!
There were so many different aspects about the waterlillies that I'd have liked to have captured, but I had to manage with just one shot... and this was it. I'm not too concerned though because I know that there will be other visits made and that I will get to grab the different angles that I didn't have the time to get that trip.
Come, rest a while...
If I could sit anywhere I liked for a picnic, I'd love to be able to sit right beside this stream. For me, it'd be a magical setting to be able to enjoy being with someone special with the waterfall tinkling away in the near distance as we eat and enjoy each other's company, then somewhere to bathe our feet as we recharge our batteries among nature afterwards.
One of the biggest fountains in town
Though there are several fountains around town, this one is the biggest one that I know of. It also happens to be one of the few that are difficult to shoot in their entirety because there are few unobstructed access points to shoot it from. I went with this angle because I was able to show the height that the water goes to without having as many obstructions that I'd have had from the other angle that I had in mind for the shot.
While I feel that the leaves towards the top of the picture are annoying in one sense, I can also see that they add an extra element of depth that wouldn't be there without them in the shot.
While I feel that the leaves towards the top of the picture are annoying in one sense, I can also see that they add an extra element of depth that wouldn't be there without them in the shot.
Blooming Marvellous...
This blossom is a shot that I found a little tricky to unite with the place where it was shot because I have shot several blossom pictures over the past few years. It's only by thinking of the locations where I have shot blossoms and looking at the surrounding area that I am able to place this blossom in Matlock Bath, given that the greenery surrounding it is slightly more ornamental in design than the other blossoms that I have shot, which were in a country park that is designed to attract wildlife.
The lengths that i will go to...
I was so happy that my camera only shoots images from the direction that the camera is set to because this one would have offered an insight into the less than glamorous side of photography if I'd been able to activate the rear facing camera as well.
Looking at the finished result with a calm, clear mind now, I think that the hardships that I went through to achieve the shot were so worth it - even if I was unable to get the angle that I wanted to without climbing into the water to get the right position. If that had been possible though, it's not something that I would have done at that time of the year because it was far too cold for me to take the risk of getting sick just to obtain my idea of the perfect shot of the flower.
Looking at the finished result with a calm, clear mind now, I think that the hardships that I went through to achieve the shot were so worth it - even if I was unable to get the angle that I wanted to without climbing into the water to get the right position. If that had been possible though, it's not something that I would have done at that time of the year because it was far too cold for me to take the risk of getting sick just to obtain my idea of the perfect shot of the flower.
falling to nowhere...
This is one of the more interesting waterfalls that I have seen to date. I like the way that we can clearly see the water falling... yet, at the same time, it doesn't seem to be feeding anything - so you have to wonder exactly what happens to the water at the bottom?
Clearly, we know that it all doesn't simply evaporate into nothingness, so we can only guess that the final resting place happens to be somewhere underground that is out of our line of sight.
Clearly, we know that it all doesn't simply evaporate into nothingness, so we can only guess that the final resting place happens to be somewhere underground that is out of our line of sight.
A sneaky "indoor" water feature
Though you can't really see a lot from this angle, I like the water feature hidden within this building because of the way that the water seeps through a hole in the wall when it is functioning. Sadly though, I haven't seen it working for a number of years now. What makes this really worthwhile for me is my vivid imagination.
Local legend has it that there is a homeless guy in the locality. He is supposed to sleep in a cave a short distance away from here... well, over the years, I have carved out this fantasy life for him in my imagination. Because the water gathering area for this water feature is a big semi circle, I imagine that it would be somewhere that he might spend the night wrapped up in his sleeping bag and snuggled down in the water gathering area when the feature is not operational.
However, in reality, I have never been able to find any evidence to suggest that there is or even was a homeless guy in the area... and even if there was, I can't see him wanting to sleep here - especially during the autumn months when the town hosts it public events and the gathering pool becomes a glorified public restroom.
Local legend has it that there is a homeless guy in the locality. He is supposed to sleep in a cave a short distance away from here... well, over the years, I have carved out this fantasy life for him in my imagination. Because the water gathering area for this water feature is a big semi circle, I imagine that it would be somewhere that he might spend the night wrapped up in his sleeping bag and snuggled down in the water gathering area when the feature is not operational.
However, in reality, I have never been able to find any evidence to suggest that there is or even was a homeless guy in the area... and even if there was, I can't see him wanting to sleep here - especially during the autumn months when the town hosts it public events and the gathering pool becomes a glorified public restroom.
A more interesting take on a bandstand!
This bandstand interests me because I am more used to seeing circular ones where people gather around on all sides to enjoy the entertainment that is occurring in the centre. Obviously, we can see that this is not an example of that sort of bandstand. The fact that it is wired for electricity is also a concept that is new to me... though it must look nice when it is all lit up at night.
I also find myself wondering what the doors on either side are for? Unless it is deceptively spacious inside, it doesn't look like the area would be able to contain that much from this angle.
I also find myself wondering what the doors on either side are for? Unless it is deceptively spacious inside, it doesn't look like the area would be able to contain that much from this angle.
Yep, they are Doors...
The title above was quite literally a comment that I got from my mum upon showing her the pictures that I shot while I was in Matlock Bath.
These doors were taken for a couple of reasons... none of which have anything to do with the fact that they are quite clearly an old set of doors, which would qualify them as worthy of the shot by any photographer who preserves history. The most obvious reason why I shot these doors was for the signs that were on them... I figured that they would look good in a set on advertising.
The second reason is for the colouring of the doors themselves. I've always been drawn to the unusual... and this was no different as far as I was concerned. What you probably notice is that the doors are green with a pinkish tint to them. The actual colour of the doors in person is the green that you can see around the hinges on the door to the right of the picture. The gamble I took here really paid off in that the pink undertone really came out better when it was exposed to the flash of my camera.
These doors were taken for a couple of reasons... none of which have anything to do with the fact that they are quite clearly an old set of doors, which would qualify them as worthy of the shot by any photographer who preserves history. The most obvious reason why I shot these doors was for the signs that were on them... I figured that they would look good in a set on advertising.
The second reason is for the colouring of the doors themselves. I've always been drawn to the unusual... and this was no different as far as I was concerned. What you probably notice is that the doors are green with a pinkish tint to them. The actual colour of the doors in person is the green that you can see around the hinges on the door to the right of the picture. The gamble I took here really paid off in that the pink undertone really came out better when it was exposed to the flash of my camera.
I love the fishpond!
The Fishpond in itself is something of a magnet for bikers in the locality on summer evenings... and it's not uncommon to struggle to walk by on that side of the road because of the crowd gathered outside.
You are probably still wondering why on earth they would name a pub "The Fishpond". Now, the answer to that question is in the picture, though you can't really see it from this angle. Behind the red tree to the far right of the picture, there is a fish pond that is home to some carp... unfortunately, this area was too busy for me to get a picture of the pond that day, so it is on my list of things to do at a later date.
You are probably still wondering why on earth they would name a pub "The Fishpond". Now, the answer to that question is in the picture, though you can't really see it from this angle. Behind the red tree to the far right of the picture, there is a fish pond that is home to some carp... unfortunately, this area was too busy for me to get a picture of the pond that day, so it is on my list of things to do at a later date.
Another shot of The Fishpond
I suspect that this would be the living quarters for the landlord of The Fishpond... but having never been inside the establishment, it is something that I can't comfortably say one way or the other.
What always amused me is the colouring of the building, given that most of it is white - then you have this black area off to the left... the reason why this area is black is something that escapes me, but it certainly makes the window stand out more on summer evenings when the light reflects off it's panes.
What always amused me is the colouring of the building, given that most of it is white - then you have this black area off to the left... the reason why this area is black is something that escapes me, but it certainly makes the window stand out more on summer evenings when the light reflects off it's panes.
A view up one side of the valley...
Matlock Bath is one of the few areas that can really make me feel claustrophobic if I allow it to, simply because it lies between 2 cliffs like this. This one isn't actually as steep as the one on the other side, which is a magnet for climbers in the summer months. Sometimes, it can be fun to just sit and watch these tiny specks clinging to the side of the cliff as they attempt to climb the sheer rock - though, it's not something that I would actually be brave enough to attempt for myself given that I also have issues with heights!