NAVIGATION

The petrifying wells of Matlock in Derbyshire were a famous and special attraction to the Victorian tourist of the 1820's and 1830's. Mr Joseph Pearson owned the largest of the three wells in the town after the Princess Victoria's visit of 1832 became known as the 'Royal Petrifying Well'. A profusion of petrified objects was produced, ranging from stags heads to bird's nests, by means of a calcareous deposit dripping slowly through the roof of the well.