47 Buxton, Derbyshire

On Sunday 19th July Lou and I, took Emily and William for a day out to Buxton, Derbyshire. Buxton is not that far from Sheffield really, but it's a place I have never actually visited. I have passed through I believe, and have seen many a sign of it when out and about in the Peaks.

It was a glorious day, and when we arrived there we found that it there was a festival of Morris dancers being held, so we merrily made our ways through the town, watching and occasionally being invited into the strange but rather fascinating world of Morris dancers.

William was fascinated

or maybe not....

I am sure I heard someone mutter 'You're my wife now!

They allok fabulous, and this particular group are called The Powderkegs Border Morris Dancers... and you can find out more about them by @ www.powderkegs.co.uk

We did manage to get the necessary tea and cake... at the Glorious Buxton Pavilion in the Pavilion Garden. After which we wandered around the town and saw the Buxton Opera House. And the stunning Crescent, designed by John Carr in 1780 and is now a Grade 1 listed building. Sadly, you are not allowed to go inside at present, as it has been closed down while it awaits refurbishment and repairs.

'The Crescent was a revolutionary new type of building and the forerunner of the hotel as we know it today – an idea brought to Britain from the continent to serve the ever-increasing numbers ‘taking the waters’ at Buxton Spa. On the ground floor shops were ranged beneath the arcade and included a draper, druggist, perfumer, hair and wig dresser, a post office and a lending library. In the basement food was prepared for guests, but more often brought in from a variety of taverns and chop houses across Buxton.

The Assembly Rooms, part of the ‘Great Hotel’ at the eastern end of the Crescent were the hub of 18th Century social life, where visitors danced, met friends and played cards. Residents of the Crescent would visit each other ‘at home’ drink tea, and catch up on the gossip about new arrivals at the spa. The Crescent was the brainchild of the 5th Duke of Devonshire and designed by John Carr, his architect, appointed for the ‘improvement of Buxton’. It is without doubt one of the finest buildings of its kind anywhere in the world and is, as the Duke intended, a fitting rival to the crescents of Bath.'

Across from the Crescent is the Bath House, and a small fountain where one can still take the waters.

We did, and they tastes quite nice if I do say so myself...





We filled our Buxton water bottles back up, and walked back up the hill to the carpark,









With one last look back we got ready for the journey home.