Places of Interest in Buxton - click on the thumbnails for larger pictures
Buxton Opera House
The Buxton Opera House is one of the finest examples of Edwardian architecture. It was built in 1905 and hosts a wide range of events all year round. From Pantomime at Christmas through opera, standup comedians and plays.A couple of significant events are:-
- The Gilbert and Sullivan Festival
- The Buxton Festival of Music and the Arts
Recently,
the Opera House was the subject of a major refurbishment exercise. The
work included:
- Major
Roof Repair
- Stone
cleaning
- Restoration of the conservatory
- Complete redecoration
Click here
to visit the Opera House web site
Pavilion Gardens
The Pavilion Gardens with the River Wye running through them, adjoin the
Opera House and provide a range of facilities comprising:
- The
Octagon Suite
- The
Paxton Suite
- Restaurant
- Tea
Rooms
- The
Gardens
- Swimming
Pool
The Octagon and Paxton Suites are used for a wide range of activities
including:
- Antique
Fairs
- Classic
Car Auctions
- Model
Collector and Craft Fairs
- Book
Fairs
- Brass
Band Concerts and Competitions
The Gardens are being restored to a former glory. For many years the lakes
suffered from severe silting, now they have been dredged and redesigned
to avoid the silting problem. In addition a splendid new bandstand has
been built.
More
work has now started at the Opera House end end of the gardens.
To help with car parking, a second storey has been added to the car park.
Two of the pictures on the right show the second story during the course
of construction.
The Devonshire Hospital
Originally built by the Duke of Devonshire in 1790 as stables and a riding school, it was converted by the 6th Duke into a hospital. The conversion involved the building of a dome over what had been the open air horse training area. The dome was, in its day, the largest in the world, and is believed still to be the largest in Europe.
The property has been purchased by the University of Derby and is being refurbished. It will take over from the existing college facilities at Harpur Hill. It will be interesting to see how these changes will shape the development of the Buxton of the future.
Pooles Cavern
Green Lane
Buxton
01298-26978
The
source of the River Wye, Pooles Cavern takes it's name from a robber who
was supposed to have lived there.
Today, it's home to a number of bats.
Here was found the earliest evidence of man's existance in the area, dating
back to prehistoric times.
There's a small exhibition giving more information about the history of
the cavern and its surroundings.
It's well worth a visit just to see the magnificent stalactite and stalagmite
formations.
Seen here with the Crescent on the left, and situated opposite the Slopes, the arcade was once the thermal baths. Many came to bathe and drink the water in the hope that their illnesses would be cured - Mary, Queen of Scots was perhaps the most famous of its visitors.
You can still see parts of the old baths in one area.
The Arcade is now a small shopping centre with antique, art , book and other shops. There's also a restaurant.
Of paricular interest is the barrel-vaulted stained glass roof.
Situated at the foot of the Slopes and in front of the Cavendish Arcade the memorial was erected in 1879. Following damage in an accident, it was removed in 1959.
It has since been restored and was re-erected in 1994.
St Ann's Well
Found opposite the Visitor Information Centre at the foot of
the Slopes, this is not the original well. The original was visited by
many famous and not so famous in search of the health giving powers of
the water.
Carrying
the inscription "A well of living waters", you can try the famous
Buxton Spa water for yourself.