The History of Buxton

Buxton is the nearest town located to Hargate Hall and it’s steeped in history. Buxton is best known for being an old market town and spa town and it’s also the highest town in England. Being nestled between the Derbyshire and Peak District Hills, the town is at a height of over 1000ft. It became famous as a spa town and the history around this dates all the way back to Roman times, and Roman bath sites have been discovered across the town over the years.

One of the reasons it was considered a spa town is because of the pale blue water that flows there, with bubbling thermal springs appearing beneath The Crescent. The outlet springs are from an underground reservoir, where the water lies for many years before coming to the surface at around a constant temperature of 27 degrees celsius.

It wasn’t just the Romans that visited either, over the years many famous people travelled to Buxton to enjoy its waters and one of the most famous was Mary Queen of Scots. The Queen suffered badly from arthritis and a number of other bone and joint conditions and it was believed the waters helped to calm her symptoms.

During the 18th century, Buxton firmly cemented itself as a town and it’s when most building and developments took place. This was carried out using money from the 5th Duke of Devonshire. The Duke is most famous for completing The Crescent and it was completed in 1788, along with a number of luxury rooms and an adjoining townhouse. By 1804, the townhouse was relinquished and converted into the Centre Hotel.

Over the years, there have been many historic buildings completed in Buxton and many of which are still standing to this day. Meaning if you love history, then Buxton should be on your bucket list of places to visit. There are many attractions that bring people to the town and some of the most notable construction projects to take place over the years have been:

• The Devonshire Royal Hospital – Constructed in 1790 and expanded in 1880, to this day the hospital is now a part of Derby University.
• The Palace Hotel – Henry Currey designed the hotel in 1867 and it is considered one of the largest hotels in both Buxton and the Peak District.
• The Pavillion Gardens – These are located on the banks of the River Wye and encompass The Pavilion spa swimming pool. Built in 1871, the swimming pool has been carefully looked after and restored over the years, ensuring it maintained its Victorian feel.
• The Serpentine Walks – These are one of Buxton’s most popular attractions and were originally created by Joseph Paxton during the 19th century.
• The Opera House – Constructed in the 20th century, the building still stands to this day and it is recognised as being the main focal point for Buxton festival which is held in August.

These are just a few of the most popular attractions that people visit to really feel the history that Buxton has to offer. However, there is definitely much more to see, from Churches to historic trails, there really is something for everyone in Buxton.

Not everyone likes the rigidity of hotels and that’s why Hargate Hall is the perfect place for you to stay, Hargate Hall is steeped in history itself and is located only a short distance from the centre of Buxton. Our self catering apartment offers your total flexibility over your holidays and comes with everything you’ll need to enjoy your stay. Contact us today for more information or to arrange a stray at Hargate Hall – One of Buxton’s best kept secrets.