Bank Road

Looking up Bank Road from Matlock Bridge across Crown Square

Bank Road is a road in Matlock, Derbyshire which runs from Crown Square up Matlock Bank, a steep hill which gives the road its name, to Wellington Street. Although many consider the whole incline to be Bank Road, beyond Smedley Street, just over halfway up, the road is called Rutland Street.

Tram

In 1893 a cable tramway was built along Bank Road. Halfway up there was a stop at Smedley Street where Smedley's Hydro (built by John Smedley) was situated. Conceived by Job Smith, the tram was inspired by San Francisco's famous cable cars, and cost £20,000. When it was built it was the steepest tramway in the world[1] at a gradient of 1 in 5½, and it rose 300 feet. The fare was tuppence up, penny down. It closed in 1927 after losing business to cars and buses.[2]

Landmarks

Bank Road has many local landmark buildings along it - from the bottom of the hill (Crown Square) travelling north:

NB. Beyond Smedley Street Bank Road is actually Rutland Street.

References

External links

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