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| Whatstandwell | |
|---|---|
 Whatstandwell corner on theA6 road main road looking North where it turns across the Derwent bridge in an 'S' bend to left then right. | |
  Whatstandwell Location withinDerbyshire | |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MATLOCK |
| Postcode district | DE4 |
| Dialling code | 01773 |
| Police | Derbyshire |
| Fire | Derbyshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
| |
Whatstandwell (/ˈwɒtstændwɛl/) is a village on theRiver Derwent in theAmber Valley district ofDerbyshire, England.[1]It is about five miles south ofMatlock and about four miles north ofBelper.Whatstandwell railway station is on theDerby–MatlockDerwent Valley Line, and theA6trunk road crosses the River Derwent in the village. Most of the population is included in thecivil parish ofCrich but the village may be said to extend across the Derwent into the parish ofAlderwasley.
OnPeter Perez Burdett's map of 1791, it is shown as 'Hottstandell Bridge', probably a literal spelling of the local dialect. A mid-19th-centuryOrdnance Survey map shows it as 'Whatstandwell Bridge' which was the name given to the railway station. The name derives from Walter Stonewell, who "held of the convent" the house next to the bridge which John de Strepul built at his own expense, in 1393.[citation needed]
TheCromford Canal passes through the village, which was an important transport route to and fromArkwright'sCromford Mill in the 19th century. The Friends Of Cromford Canal are currently seeking to reopen this navigation in full from Cromford to its junction with theErewash Canal atLangley Mill. This area is part of theDerwent Valley MillsHeritage Site.
To the east of the village is the steep climb toCrich and theNational Tramway Museum, while a short distance to the north is the former rope-worked incline of theCromford and High Peak Railway. To the south, on the west bank of theDerwent, liesShining Cliff Woods, owned and managed by theGrith Pioneers.[2]
The village has an active social group that holds several village events each year. The flagship of these is the Whatstandwell Festival held across the valley at Hankin Farm in the middle of June. This features locally brewed real ale, local bands, games and a BBQ. The social group also organises a horticultural show, bonfire night, and a carol concert. The once-annual raft race was abandoned because of a lack of support and access issues.
There were two pubs at the turn of the century, but the Wheatsheaf is now a private residence, and the Derwent Hotel is a cafe/restaurant called the Family Tree.
Whatstandwell is mentioned in theD. H. Lawrence novelSons and Lovers, published in 1913, in a scene in which Paul Morel and Miriam go on a day's outing: "They went on, miles and miles, to Whatstandwell. All the food was eaten, everybody was hungry, and there was very little money to get home with. But they managed to procure a loaf and a currant-loaf, which they hacked to pieces with shut knives, and ate sitting on the wall near the bridge, watching the bright Derwent rushing by, and thebrakes from Matlock pulling up at the inn."
Ellen MacArthur, the round-the-world sailor, grew up in Whatstandwell.[3]
Ken Smith, the subject of the Scottish BAFTA-winning filmThe Hermit of Treig, was born in the village. His bookThe Way of the Hermit, published by Pan McMillan ISBN 9781035009817 describes his childhood in the village.[4]
Media related toWhatstandwell at Wikimedia Commons