Architecture

Bygone Buxton
In The Derbyshire Peak  District, England

Buxton has its beginnings as a spa town from the moment the Romans invaded these islands more than 2000 years ago. They came to this area, now Buxton, and found natural springs bubbling up through the ground. From past experience and their discoveries elsewhere, they recognized these warm waters as having the natural curative powers to heal.


However, since very little remains from those far off days for us to see now, we have to move forward through the centuries and look a little closer to the present time. During the early part of the sixteenth century, Buxton's waters were once more coming into vogue as a means to curing all manner of ailments for those who visited the area.


At around 1570, the very first Hall was built by the Earl of Shrewsbury, where one of its visitors, Mary, Queen of Scots, is recorded as having stayed there for her health. During the late 1670's the third Earl of Devonshire had the Hall rebuilt following a fire that all but destroyed much of the original building. The Old Hall that stands there today is this very remarkable and grand building.

Our first image, taken around 1908, provides a panoramic view towards the magnificent Crescent from Buxton's town hall.

This shows the open layout of the Slopes long before the trees became established. The Old Hall Hotel can be seen to the left, next the low building that is the Natural Baths (now the TIC), followed by the Crescent in the centre, and the Thermal or Hot Baths to the right, (now the Cavendish Arcade).

Opposite these, there is the twin domed Pump Room, where Buxton's thermal and chalybeate waters were offered to visitors to drink.

Our second view of the Crescent, was taken around 1916, when the trees on the Slopes were just a little more mature than in the first scene. Cars are just beginning to become a fashionable mode of transport, or at least for those who could afford them at the time.

Where there is a lamp standard in front of the building, there is now a small fountain and pool. The Crescent was formerly divided into three hotels. St Anne's, at the western end, The Centre Hotel and The Great Hotel at the eastern end. All are now closed.

The latter contains a richly decorated assembly room, which at one time was formerly occupied by the town's public library and reading rooms.

Very little has changed since the time this delightful view of the Serpentine was taken in 1918. There were far more trees at the time than you will find there today. The pathway that slopes to the right and down to the riverside, no longer exists. However, the visitor can now cross the river by a bridge, which stands out of sight to the immediate right of the scene. This small, but lovely park, is very popular for those who seek peaceful surroundings.

Besides the obvious modern additions, this park is bordered, in the main, by many houses built during the Victorian era. This gives a very high indication as to the kind of wealth that Buxton, as a spa town, was drawing during this particular period.