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Archives VII
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Housing on Waterswallows Road
Although these particular houses are from
the nineteenth century, the road also contains some of the
oldest buildings to be seen in Buxton.
The trackway that runs across the golf course, opposite
Waterswallows itself, forms a part of the old Buxton to
Sheffield Turnpike threading its way via Hargate Wall and
Tideswell.
[ Another View of
Fairfield ]
This scene depicts the elegant row
of buildings that forms part of the Quadrant, which
at one time, had its own veranda in glass and ornate
iron work. This matched the appearance of the
colonnade on the opposite side of the street.
Due to Buxton being at one time, one of
England’s wettest places, especially during the
industrial era of the nineteenth and twentieth
centuries, much of the main shopping area offered
shelter to shoppers and visitors by means of these
verandas.
[ The
Quadrant Shopping ]
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Buxton's Quadrant (April 2001)
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On the outskirts of Buxton, there is a narrow road
that links the A6 Bakewell road, near the Morrison
supermarket, with that of the A515 road to Ashbourne,
below the Cottage hospital. This is Duke's Drive,
formerly known as The Duke's Ride. Here it is still
possible to see another magnificent Victorian feat of
engineering.
Built during the latter part of the nineteenth
century, the viaduct that spans this road, once
carried the London and North Western Railway through
to Ashbourne, some 20 miles distant.
This line, that becomes the Tissington Trail just
beyond Dowlow, saw passenger service for little more
than 50 years before it was finally closed for public
service. However, the line still carries some traffic
from the stone quarries at Hindlow.
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The Duke's Drive (May 2001)
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Ashwood Bowling - July 2007
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High summer, and our pleasant view
shows one of Buxton's most popular public bowling
greens. This is another feature of Ashwood Park that
was badly damaged in winter flooding a few years ago.
The green and its railings were restored and new
seating and floral area were added to improve the
overall effect.
The strip of land that borders the footpath below the
railway embankment, was cleared of much of its scrub.
The result, is that more varieties of wild flowers
will be seen here during the forthcoming seasons.
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Old Hall Hotel c1850
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A journey back through time to a
period around the mid nineteenth century, with the
help of an early engraved print of Buxton.
This shows us the Old Hall hotel, the conservatory at
the eastern end of the Pavilion Gardens before the
Opera House was added, St John's church and view of
the Royal Devonshire hospital before it received its
characteristic dome in 1880.
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One hundred and
fifty years later, and we can see the view from approximately the
same position.
The growth of trees do not allow us to see the Royal Devonshire
hospital, nor the Pavilion Gardens buildings, but we can see that
very little has changed where the Old Hall hotel and St John's church
are concerned.
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Our first image
is an early engraving of the waterfall next to the conservatory.
The lovely wrought iron bridge can be clearly seen, and to the side
of it, the old bandstand.
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Today, during the
middle of summer, it is almost impossible to gain a clear view from
the same location as shown in the engraving.
We can see a part of the bridge and waterfall, but very little
else.
However, the present bandstand is to the right of, and a little
beyond the bridge, whereas, the site of the old bandstand now
provides a floral display for visitors.
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The Slopes viewed from the Crescent (June
2001)
Around one
hundred and fifty years ago, it was fashionable to be seen strolling
around the Crescent and Slopes.
Our early engraving shows the scene as it was long before either the
Town Hall and the Pump Room were built.
To the right, we can see the early town housing that is Hall Bank,
and also the Town Pump which was in use from 1852 until 1894.
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An early
engraving of Buxton showing the Crescent, Hot Baths and Quadrant,
with the Palace hotel in the middle background.
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Archives Index
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