Here are the cottages where the Plague of 1666 first arrived in the village in a bundle of clothes sent from London. Also shown is Eyam's Ancient Stone Cross and there is an inset picture of the church, in the chancel of which is Mrs. Mompesson's Tomb. Her husband, the local vicar, persuaded the villagers to try to stop the plague spreading further, so they isolated themselves from the world. It is a story of incredible bravery and terrible tragedy.

The caption on this card reads: Historic Eyam Scene of the Great 17th Century Plague, Midland Route, Liverpool, Manchester and London. (A Midland Railway card).

The Dale, showing the arched railway viaduct which crossed the River Wye in the valley below, from Monsal Head.

"The Wye on the west flows through Monsal Dale, a fine view of which is obtained from Edge Stone head, where the Wye is seen rolling its silvery waters from the north, here and there shaded by the ash trees, until passing beneath a rustic bridge, it soon turns westward, winding round a bold promontory, is lost to view in this direction" (White's, 1862^[1]).

"Monsal Dale may with peculiar propriety be termed the Arcadia of Derbyshire" (Black, 1884^[2]).

The caption on this card reads: Monsal Dale, Midland Route, Liverpool, Manchester and London. (A Midland Railway card)

The market town of Bakewell, with Bakewell Church in the centre, seen from the opposite bank of the River Wye.

The caption on this card reads:
Bakewell. Midland Route, Liverpool, Manchester and London. (A Midland Railway card)

The caption on this card reads: Buxton Capital of the Peak of Derbyshire, Midland Route, Liverpool, Manchester and London. (A Midland Railway card) Looking towards the Church from the River. The Crescent was erected by the Duke of Devonshire and building work began in 1780, with John Carr of York as the architect. The building cost £120,000.

"The Crescent consists of a curve of 200 feet, with wings 58 feet, and consists of 380 windows" (Black, 1884^[2])

Before this, Rhodes, who was never one to mince his words, had written that "'the mound in front of the Crescent is no longer a lump of deformity; the genius of Wyatt has converted it into an object of beauty : all that taste and judgement could possibly effect has been done, and a series of beautiful promenades and verdant slopes now covers this once unmeaning hill"^[3].

The caption on this card reads: 'Castle of "Peveril of the Peak" Shewing Entrance to Cavern', Midland Route, Liverpool, Manchester and London. (A Midland Railway card)

Writing in 1824 Rhodes stated that 'the family of the Peverils are said to have resided here, and nor without pomp and splendour'. He goes on to visit 'Peak's Hole, one of the most striking and sublime objects in the mountainous districts of Derbyshire'^[3].

References and notes:

^[1] "Directory & Topography of the Borough of Sheffield, with all the Towns, Parishes, Villages and Hamlets within a circuit of Twenty Miles," ...(1862), Francis White & Co., Sheffield
^[2] "Black's Tourist Guide to Derbyshire" (1888) pub. Adam and Charles Black Edinburgh
^[3] Rhodes, Ebenezer (1824) "Peak Scenery" pub. London, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, Paternoster Row

Elsewhere on this website:
The Gentleman's Magazine Library - more about Bakewell, Buxton and Matlock
Derbyshire's Parishes, 1811 for more on the parishes
Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire, 1891 has transcripts of the smaller places from this 1891 directory
Matlock and Matlock Bath : The last Station Master for more on the Midland Railway.