Kelly's Directory (1848) reported that "The Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands railway, now in the course of construction, will have a station at Matlock Bath^[1]". The Ambergate to Rowsley length of the line, which passed through Matlock and Matlock Bath, opened in 1849. Before then the nearest station to Matlock Bath was at Ambergate and there was an omnibus connection which left Matlock Bath for Ambergate four times a day; this had been in operation since 1840. The fare was One [shilling] and Sixpence each, including luggage.

A few years later, Kelly's Directory (1855) stated that "The Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands railway, which is open to Rowsley, has a station at Matlock Bath; and the Midlands company run frequent excursion trains in the summer season, thus rendering this beautiful locality accessible to the artizans &c. of Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield and other neighbouring towns^[2]".

The station's main building was designed in the Swiss chalet style, probably by Sir Joseph Paxton, "to suit its surroundings and had large overhanging eaves at the gables supported on brackets. The main building and roof ran parallel to the platform but, midway, was crossed by a higher roof with similar projections, apparently making the building cross-shaped in plan but not in reality. Extending along the platform at either end of the building were pent-roof, passage-like shelters, not unlike supermarket carpark approach shelters. To the north, an extension was erected in the 1890's having two large gables facing the platform in sympathy with the first building^[3]".

The black and white photograph above shows the 1890's extension. Whilst an exact date for this photograph cannot be provided "the platforms have been extended, the new buildings erected and signal box moved which ... makes it after the mid-1890's but ... could be anywhere between then and the First World War^[3]". It is possible it was taken slightly before 1906 as Michael Bentley says the coaches are a mixed bag, as used on slow or local passenger trains, with possibly a Class 1. 2-4-0 engine on the front^[4].

The seat backs all have Matlock Bath on them and the two sign boards that are jutting out from the building are for the Gentleman's and Ladies' Waiting Rooms (the Gents is the closer of the two). Behind the Station Master, below the sign for Mason's Extract, is a public weighing machine with hand rails and beside it is a drinking fountain. The station was lit by gas lamps.

The waiting rooms today, from the platform

Viewed from a different angle

The booking hall, from the Approach

In the 1920's "the Railway Guard was a Mr. Wright who quelled all complaints about going before time and not waiting for stragglers by remarking "I follow the right time not the Wright time". ... The railway was busy, businesslike, efficient and social. It was used for local travel and for children growing up at that time was used to travel to the Picture Palace Cinema on Saturday afternoons. During the week locals commuted to Derby on the ten to eight passenger train which stopped at all stations en route, returning home at 6 o'clock^[5]".

There was a fascinating article about and colour scale drawings of the station in the August 2002 issue of Railway Modeller; this was especially interesting for those wishing to build a replica for their model railway.
Railway Modeller (external link, so will open in a new window)

Also see, elsewhere in the Matlock section of this web site, Bemroses' Guide, which dates from about 1869:
Vignette engraving of High Tor Tunnel, showing the railway station building (see bottom of the page) which shows the pent-roof, passage-like shelters at either end of the station building
Tourist Tickets on the Midland Railway
Weekend Fares on the Midland Railway

More information about the railway elsewhere on this website:
Railway Cards of Derbyshire Scenes - more Midland Railway cards, but not the same publisher
The Railways of Derbyshire, 1903 - a map

View even more about the station by clicking on the images below:

19C - stereoview

1862

1906-08

1912

Station House

Today, image3