Rockside was opened as a hydropathic establishment in 1862 by Charles Rowland and his wife, friends of John Smedley from Burton Upon Trent. Mr. Rowland was interested in numerous affairs and was a Director of the Matlock Tram Company when it was set up^[1]. The tram terminus was immediately below Rockside, at the top of Rutland Street; the tram had stopped running when this picture was taken but it would have been very convenient for guests.

Mr. Rowland was followed at Rockside by James Burton, who had married the Rowlands' niece, and then by William Atkins. Mr. Bardsley was the proprietor about 1893. The Goodwin family then took over and were at Rockside for over thirty five years. John and Eliza (née Moore) Goodwin were neighbours of the Rowlands' and lived at Wolds Farm^[2]. They had married at St. Giles in 1855 and lived on the family farm, where John died in 1887^[3]. By 1895 Eliza and some of her children had moved to Rockside and Kelly's 1899 Directory^[4] advertised:

Rockside Hydropathic and Boarding Establishment (Miss Goodwin, manageress; Dr. Marie Goodwin, resident physician; A. L'Estrange Orme, visiting physician^[4])

Anne Eliza Goodwin managed the hydro and another daughter, Dora, acted as housekeeper. Marie Goodwin married Dr. Albert L'Estrange Orme in 1900 at Matlock Bank Congregational Chapel and the couple lived at The Red House on Dale Road^[2]. Although Albert Orme died in 1909^[3], his widow continued her association with Rockside and seems to have lived there^[6]. So did her brother and sister and James Henry Goodwin was still there in 1932^[5]. Marie Goodwin-Orme was awarded the MBE^[6]. She died in 1929, aged 62, and was buried at St. Giles'.

The building was considerably extended over the years and the twin towers were added whilst the Goodwin family were running Rockside. Parker and Unwin extended the building between 1903 and 1906 and the towers were built at that time.

Just a year before this card was posted, in 1932, Rockside Hydro was advertising as follows:

Rockside Hydropathic Establishment ; 800 feet above sea level ; illustrated tariff on application. Physician, Nelson Cameron Schlater L.R.C.P.I., M.R.C.S., Eng., D.P.H. Camb. ; consultant, George Leslie Meachim M.B., Ch.B. Manc. Telephone 312^[7]

Rockside was a top quality hotel with beautifully kept grounds. Presumably the height above sea level meant that the air was considered very healthy.
There is a picture of Rockside's croquet lawn elsewhere on this website (you will need to scroll down the page).

The building was requisitioned during the Second World War and turned into a psychiatric hospital for sick airmen, known as "Hatters Castle". Post war it was bought by Derbyshire County Council and was used as a Hall of Residence for the Teacher's Training College. Despite its Grade II listing, the building was terribly neglected after the College left Matlock but has fortunately been repaired and restored.

Rockside Hydro: Watered-Down Future, a magazine article written in 2003 when Rockside was in serious danger