Our Story
Dr Richard Holloway (1955)
The Story Behind Peak Soap
Peak Soap was founded in 2015, but its roots stretch back far deeper, to a quiet legacy of care, countryside wisdom, and Victorian values. Dr Richard Holloway was a country medical doctor who lived and worked in Derbyshire for most of his life. A thoughtful man with the values of a Victorian gentleman, he believed in self-reliance, honesty, and the healing power of nature. As a respiratory specialist, he treated thousands of miners across the Peak District during the latter half of the 20th century. He carried out early, overlooked research that showed how petrochemicals in household and personal care products were harming people’s skin and lungs.
Long before “natural” became fashionable, Richard urged a return to simpler remedies and non-synthetic ingredients, a contrarian view at odds with the pharmaceutical establishment. His quiet defiance laid the philosophical foundation for Peak Soap, even though he passed away in 1999 and never lived to see it come to life.
That seed was nurtured by Elizabeth Holloway, his wife who as a nurse, shared his belief in living well and naturally. Elizabeth, loved old walled Victorian gardens, and tended her own with deep care. Herbs, flowers and scents were her language of expression, she believed that nature was not only beautiful but beneficial.
In 2015, my mother Elizabeth gave me small bundle of lavender she had picked in Buxton and subsequently dried. That gift became the inspiration for the first batch of soap. Hand-poured, rich with natural oils and herbs, it captured the spirit of both my parents: Dads principles and Mums passion for scent, colour and season.
Today, Peak Soap continues their legacy. Handmade in Bakewell using only the finest plant-based ingredients, our soaps are inspired by the Victorian apothecary, Elizabeth’s gardens, and the wild beauty of the Peak District. We never use synthetic chemicals or artificial fragrances, only natural clays, essential oils, and botanicals chosen for their benefit to skin and spirit alike.
At Peak Soap, we believe in skincare that is simple, pure, and grounded in tradition. It’s a daily ritual made by hand, rooted in a family story, shaped by the land, and carried forward with purpose.
Long before “natural” became fashionable, Richard urged a return to simpler remedies and non-synthetic ingredients, a contrarian view at odds with the pharmaceutical establishment. His quiet defiance laid the philosophical foundation for Peak Soap, even though he passed away in 1999 and never lived to see it come to life.
That seed was nurtured by Elizabeth Holloway, his wife who as a nurse, shared his belief in living well and naturally. Elizabeth, loved old walled Victorian gardens, and tended her own with deep care. Herbs, flowers and scents were her language of expression, she believed that nature was not only beautiful but beneficial.
In 2015, my mother Elizabeth gave me small bundle of lavender she had picked in Buxton and subsequently dried. That gift became the inspiration for the first batch of soap. Hand-poured, rich with natural oils and herbs, it captured the spirit of both my parents: Dads principles and Mums passion for scent, colour and season.
Today, Peak Soap continues their legacy. Handmade in Bakewell using only the finest plant-based ingredients, our soaps are inspired by the Victorian apothecary, Elizabeth’s gardens, and the wild beauty of the Peak District. We never use synthetic chemicals or artificial fragrances, only natural clays, essential oils, and botanicals chosen for their benefit to skin and spirit alike.
At Peak Soap, we believe in skincare that is simple, pure, and grounded in tradition. It’s a daily ritual made by hand, rooted in a family story, shaped by the land, and carried forward with purpose.