Building record MDR10183 - No. 1 & 2 Midland Cottages, Bakewell Road, Rowsley

Pair of cottages, now a single dwelling. Built in 1850 by Joseph Paxton for the Midland Railway. They are very similar to a pair next to Darley Dale station which are also by Paxton. The minutes of the Midland Railway of August 10 1850 specify that 'Mr Paxton b requested to prepare the plans, to let the works and superintend the construction' of two houses, an office and four cottages at Rowsley station. The minutes explain that this was because the station staff had to travel so far to their work. This is a fine quality, little-altered pair of railway cottages by a distinguished architect and landscape gardener. It also has historic interest in that the construction for railway staff responded to the huge numbers of travellers passing through the station to visit Chatsworth, which had 80,000 visitors in the summer of 1849, the year the railway line opened. (1)