This is an early twentieth century sepia postcard of the Upper Tower in the grounds of the Heights of Abraham high up on the hillside above Matlock Bath. The architecture is Late Georgian Gothic and the house was built around 1833 by Mr. Gilbert^[1] . When the Heights, along with the Upper and Lower Towers, was auctioned in 1838 the house was described as being built in the Castellated Style and as "suitable for a small family"^[2]. It was to be sold with the Rutland Cavern. The Upper Tower was auctioned again in 1863, together with "Guilderoy", by the Devisee in Trust under the Will of Thomas Wakley, Esq.^[3].

Only a few families have lived in the property, although this is not easy to work out from either the census returns or from various trade directories. The address "The Tower" was often published but usually referred to The Lower Tower further down the hillside and which was built before the Upper Tower. One of the sons of William and Maria Aldham was born at the Upper Tower in 1857^[4]; the family later moved to Tor Cottage. Henrietta Bryan, widow of Benjamin, lived at the Upper Tower^[5] and later on the Sprinthalls^[6] and their close relatives the Aspeys^[7] made it their home for about 50 and 35 years respectively whilst they ran the Heights of Abraham.

Describing what visitors would find after walking up to the Heights from Matlock Bath in 1840, William Adam wrote "The third turn [of the Zigzag path] leads directly onto the Cavern Terrace by the Upper tower, where seats are provided for the party to rest and enjoy a view which includes the whole of the noble scenery of Matlock"^[1] . The message on the back of this postcard describes the building as being "half way down the hill between Tower [Victoria Prospect Tower] and Matlock Bath. Here are tea rooms & specimens of Stalactites".

^[1] Adam, William (1840) "The Gem of the Peak", London; Longman & Co., Paternoster Row - see onsite transcript
^[2] "The Derby Mercury", Wednesday, June 13, 1838
^[3] "The Derby Mercury", Wednesday, April 22, 1863
^[4] "The Derby Mercury", Wednesday, May 20, 1857 and 1861 census
^[5] Kelly, E.R. M.A. (ed.) (1864) "The Post Office Directory of the Counties of Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Rutlandshire", Kelly and Co., London - see onsite transcript
^[6] "Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire" pub. London, (1908) - see onsite transcript
^[7] Peter Aspey lived at the Heights of Abraham as a boy and has written about his life there. Go to his web site (see Personal Details/Early History).