Bakewell
Bakewell – A pleasant small town set on the banks of the River Wye, this old market town is in the heart of the Peak District National Park.
Bakewell grew up around a cluster of thermal springs and wells that attracted Iron Age settlers and, in Anglo-Saxon times, gave the place its name. The town was mentioned in the Domes Day Book of 1085 -`Badequella’ meaning Bath-well.
Famous for its Bakewell Puddings so don’t miss the Original Bakewell Pudding Shop – the town received a royal charter as a market town in 1330, markets are still held every Monday in the town centre and there is new thriving livestock market – although this has been detrimental to the smaller markets held in the local hill country for many centuries.
Less than 200 years ago, Bakewell presented a completely different picture with narrow streets and timber framed properties, many of which had thatched roofs.
The modern layout of the town only came about in the 19th century.
Clustered around the old livestock market are The Peacock Inn also offering some decent rooms – The Castle – The Wheatsheaf & The Red Lion – & further down the road The Manners is making a name for itself.
The Rutland Arms Hotel is trying to catch up after years of neglect but is getting some OK reviews – there are plenty of quality hotels in the surrounding area.
Today Bakewell has many historic buildings and its pleasant riverside walks along the banks of the Wye – also it has become the designer outlet of the peaks you need go no further if you want to shop till you drop.
John Brocklehurst has been here for 50 years, The Farm Shop is a welcome addition.