Buxton Water

The town of Buxton is famous for the constantly flowing natural thermal water which emerges from nine springs in the Crescent area. The water is one of the purist in the world and the water that we drink today fell as rain 5000 years ago, filtering through the limestone of the Peak District until it meets an imperious layer where it remains from some 20 years to re emerge where the impervious layer outcrops. It runs through subterranean depths and the water is warmed to 82°F by passing through heat giving minerals and flows at some 150 gallons per minute. The thermal waters of Buxton are the only true thermal waters in Derbyshire and the quality and purity, apart from being slightly radio active, has 40 minor constitutes and is a faint blue colour.

The story of Buxton water is a very long and also a very British one. Buxton and its natural mineral water have been part of the nation's historical and natural landscape for thousands of years, just like the Derbyshire bedrock on which the town stands. Buxton is the jewel of all spa towns and it was the Romans who first put Buxton and the water on the map in AD 70, when they marched into the town, which they called their new settlement, Aquae Arnetmetiae. 'Aquae' is the latin name for water.

Moving along a few hundred years, in Tudor times, Buxton was a hotspot for royalty, with numerous visits by Mary Queen of Scots who liked to be in the waters to soothe her rheumatism. When she was in prisoner in England, she was accompanied at all times by the Earl of Shrewsbury, who actually commissioned the hall over the baths to provide accommodation for his charge.

By the late 18th century, Buxton had become extremely popular with aristocrats coming from all over the country to sample the waters. It was decided that a fitting hotel should be commissioned and the Crescent was built, Built in 1785 by John Carr, it became Britain's first leisure resort with spa facilities on site and was the forerunner of the modern hotel. In 1871, the magnificent Pavilion Gardens opened and the spa became the place where the gentry HAD to be seen in.

In the early part of the 20th century general interest in spas all over the country went into decline and Buxton natural mineral water disappeared from the limelight outside of the town.

It wasn't until 1987 that this all changed and Perrier UK took control. Under the guidance and leadership, Buxton natural mineral began to thrive again and when they put the new bottling plant upon the source of the springs, they rapidly increased production. In 1993, the group, which now included Buxton, was acquired by Nestlé Waters UK and now Buxton plant is one of the most technologically advanced in the UK and Buxton is the number one natural mineral brand in Britain.

Nowadays, Buxton water is enjoyed by millions of people whether they are at home on the go. They choose to drink a pure and refreshing mineral water which is sourced locally and proudly, from a town in the heart of the Peak District and thanks to the buying public, Buxton is now the number one British natural mineral water in the UK.

In 2012, the new state of the art production was opened at Waterswallow's in Buxton, which is to enable Buxton to accelerate their ambition to promote sustainable development practices and protect the future of brand.

Throughout the year, Buxton mineral water is provided free of charge to various local schools and universities.