Pictures of the Past : ‘The Warren’, Monsal Dale

The source for this image is a old postcard, undated, but by appearances is probably not later than 1920. The address space and for correspondence are blank.

The 5-arch Monsal Dale Viaduct can be seen in the distance. When it was first built to carry the Midland railway line across Monsal Dale on the route from Bakewell to Buxton, John Ruskin, an early conservationist and reactionary is reputed to have said:-

"The valley is gone, and the Gods with it; and now, every fool in Buxton can be at Bakewell in half-an-hour and every fool in Bakewell at Buxton... and let it be said that is a good exchange of fools..."

His comment never fails to amuse me; however the railway's promoters were well aware of the beauty of the countryside the railway passed through and labelled it 'Little Switzerland' in their adverts. Now the railway is gone, the valley is a favourite haunt of walkers, and the viaduct is a breathtaking part of the scenery. It is now protected, as being of architectural importance historically, and no doubt there would be an outcry of similar vehemence to Ruskin's if it was suggested it should be pulled down!

(Commentary provided by Rosemary Lockie)

This is one of the postcards in ‘The Reeves Collection’.
In other words, it belonged to my mother.