Beautiful Buxton

Similar to our choice of Wendover as a stop, we didn’t know much about Buxton before going, but we were focused more on the location and train accessibility.  We lucked out with both cities in that they are both wonderful places with unique characteristics and appeal.  We’re so happy we got a chance to visit both of them!

Buxton is another lovely market town in Derbyshire on the edge of the Peak District. We decided to stay here for a couple of nights on our way from Wendover to Edinburgh, so our train ride wouldn’t be quite so long.  

We arrived at our cottage on Wednesday evening and after getting settled, we walked into the town center, where we had a great dinner at The Club House (which was recommended by the cottage owner).  {Funny story: The waiter said, “Have a lovely evening,” to which I replied, “No.”  Mike looked at me funny, and said, “He just said to have a lovely evening.”  Oops. I thought he said, “Sorry for the wait,” as he was dropping off the kids’ desserts. Thankfully, I’m fairly certain he didn’t hear me!}

The cottage and its grounds were absolutely picturesque!  Our cottage was one of two that owners, Dave and Louise offer for rent.  The cottages (and their house across the lane) are converted horse stables!  

 

They are beautifully redone with actual beds, tasteful artwork and furnishings, and all the modern conveniences.  🙂  While we weren’t sleeping on bales of hay, it was fun to imagine what the building looked like as a stable.  The bedrooms were upstairs, which I’m guessing were originally the hay loft!  In addition, Dave and Louise own the Buxton Riding School and 95 acres of beautiful rural land just on the outskirts (walkable) of the town center.  Right outside our door, we heard roosters in the morning and could watch as the horses were getting groomed and led out to pasture!   

The morning after we arrived, Dave stopped by to introduce himself and answer questions. He also said that he and his wife were drooling over the bacon smell coming out of our cottage! 🙂  He gave us great information on a nice walk up behind the cottage and things to see in the town of Buxton.  We had a great day roaming around and seeing lots of Buxton.

Views from our walk on the land behind our cottage.  We had a wonderfully, foggy English morning!

It is an absolutely beautiful city with gorgeous examples of Georgian and Victorian architecture.  Buxton was founded by the Romans, who built baths to use the warm spa water. They called it Aquae Arnemetiae (or the spa of the goddess of the grove).  In the 18th and 19th centuries Buxton was famous as a spa.

  

These are original tiles and the glass ceiling of the Buxton Baths.

  

The Crescent was the centerpiece of the Fifth Duke of Devonshire’s plans to establish a fashionable Georgian spa town in Buxton.  Currently, the Crescent is being redeveloped and restored.  Dave (the cottage owner, where we stayed) told us to come back in 2017 when it opens as a 5-star hotel and spa! 🙂  

There is also a beautiful garden called the Pavilion Garden with an octagonal conservatory and 23 acres of gardens, including a great children’s playground, a river full of swans, and winding paths and bridges.  The Old Hall Hotel (or the Old Hag Hotel as Mike called it when he couldn’t read the sign in the dark) is just across the way from both the Pavilion Garden and the 902-seat Opera House with fabulous stained glass windows.  Built in 1573, the hotel has been said to be the oldest hotel in England.  Supposedly, Mary, Queen of Scots stayed in one of the suites!   

Apartments across the lane from the gardens.

The Octagon Conservatory.

The Club House, where we ate the night before, is the building across the street from the Opera House.

Victorian postbox from 1866, designed by architect John Penfold, these mailboxes are called Penfold boxes.

We also had a look inside the Devonshire Dome.  Measuring more than 150 feet in diameter, the Dome is bigger than St Paul’s Cathedral in London, and is the largest unsupported dome in Europe!  If you stand in the middle, right under the center, you can have fun making echo noises, which we did, of course!  (This was another suggestion given to us by Dave. 🙂  )

The Dome which is now part of the University of Derby in Buxton and Buxton College, was built by in 1779 for the 5th Duke of Devonshire.  Originally it was used as a stable for horses and servants of guests staying at the Crescent Hotel.  Later it became a charity hospital (1859) and then the Devonshire Royal Hospital (1934).  As it’s now part of the university campus, there’s a cafeteria inside where we had a nice lunch! 🙂

Maybe one day we can go back to take advantage of the thermal spas and such after The Crescent reopens!

Standing next to the Children’s Well, which was originally built by local businessman Joseph Taylor, in 1886. It provided water for travelers before piped water was widely available and is made of polished pink granite.