A twentieth century Ward Lock Guide described the Heights of Abraham and its grounds. "The lower slopes are very thickly wooded, but higher there are unobstructed views. At the highest point (about 800 feet) is the Prospect Tower, which does not form part of a factory, whatever the critical visitor might think. But the view afforded at the top of the tower will disarm criticism. Originally intended as the Victoria Tower in compliment to the late Queen, it soon took the commoner name of Prospect^[2]".

This postcard shows the Tower from slightly higher up the Masson hillside. In marked contrast to the stunning and very green view of the Tower and the distant hills, the message on the postcard, written in early December 1907, reads:

"arrived alright
its snowing beautifully just what we wanted to see"

Just over fifty years earlier The Derby Mercury reported some exceptional Spring weather in the Peak District. "On Tuesday before noon a party of Americans were walking on the Heights of Abraham at Matlock, ankle deep in snow, but with the sun inconvenently hot on their backs. At this time the weather was perfectly clear and fine, and the snow rapidly disappearing. There was a similar storm in this district on the 10th May, 1817, but nothing of the kind is remembered since, until this week^[1]".

References:

^[1] Ward Lock & Co's "Matlock, Dovedale, Bakewell and South Derbyshire", Illustrated Guide Books of England and Wales (1932-3), p. 38
^[2] "The Derby Mercury", Wednesday, May 11, 1853. The weather in the Peak.

You may like to view
Royal Visitors
Matlock Bath's Main Attractions
Inscriptions
See Chapter 4 of Hall's "Days in Derbyshire" (1863)

Elsewhere on the Internet
Heights of Abraham
Living at the Heights, Peter Aspey's Early History