Buxton in the 1920s
In the foreground is the Samuel Turner Memorial Drinking fountain erected in 1878 in memory of a local benefactor.
On
the left are The Slopes, public gardens laid out in 1818 by Jeffry
Wyatville for the 6th Duke of Devonshire. Joseph Paxton made a number of
alterations in the 1850s. In front of the Slopes can be seen some bath
chairs, at one time a popular conveyance in the town.
Behind the
glass collonade on the right is the Thermal Baths, designed by Henry
Currey architect to the Duke of Devonshire and opened in 1854. Since
1987, this has been the Cavendish Arcade, a shopping centre housing an
array of independent retailers.
The bus is a Tilling Stevens of
the North Western Road Car Company. This operator was formed in 1923 and
took delivery of the first vehicles from that manufacturer the
following year.
Prominent in the picture is The Crescent,
finished in 1789 to the design of John Carr for the 5th Duke. The
Crescent is currently undergoing a major renovation and on completion
will re-open as an hotel. Opposite is the Pump Room where visitors to
Buxton “Took The Waters”. In the background is the Old Hall Hotel.
Originally a four storey tower, the Hall was built in 1573 by Bess of
Hardwick. Mary, Queen of Scots was housed there on several occasions
in the 1570s on order of Elizabeth 1st. Rebuilt in 1670 by the first
Duke, it became an hotel in 1727 and still serves that purpose.
Buxton Opera House in 1923.
Built in 1903, it was designed by
Britain’s most prolific theatre architect, Frank Matcham. It was
converted in 1927 for cinema use and extensively refurbished in 1979.
In
the left foreground is the entrance to The Conservatory, part of the
complex of buildings that face the Pavillion Gardens. This structure was
built in 1870 to the design of Edward Milner.
On the right hand
side is The Old Clubhouse, a pub and restaurant. It was built in 1886
as a gentlemen’s club and continued in that role until the mid 1980s.
The
tower in the background is that of St. John The Baptist Parish Church.
Built in 1811 to the design of John White it was the final project of
the 5th Duke of Devonshire who died just after its completion.
The Pump Room, Buxton c1920.
This elegant building was opened in 188,9 a gift to the town from the Duke of Devonshire. Here, one could sample the mineral waters for a penny a glass. The Pump Room is currently being restored and will re-open as a tea room where once again visitors will be able to “take the waters”.
These three photographs have all been digitally colourised from black and white originals.
You mention The Old Clubhouse,
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to school at Buxton I went from WB to Buxton on the train and passed it every week day. It was a members’ only club called The Union Club. It looked very posh and exclusive from the outside.
It was converted in the 70’s to The Old Clubhouse by Chris Brindley, landlord of The Eagle Hotel and Jimmy Milburn, managing director of the building firm Milburn and Mills.
Milburn and Mills had their offices on Lightwood Road on the site of the old outdoor swimming pool. I went there a couple of times as a young lad and it was absolutely freezing. But when M & M took occupation of the site they filled in the pool to make a ‘yard’ and used the changing rooms as their office. I worked there for a year as company quantity surveyor until I could stand it no longer. Everyday somebody would stagger into the office blind drunk and more often than not it would be Jimmy himself. He used to drive a large Mercedes car and took no notice at all of the drink driving laws.
Some mornings he would ring me from his home and ask me to take his kids to school. They were pests and were always trying to make me crash.
Then I would have to go back for Jim as his car wasn’t there. He couldn’t remember how he had got home but we needed to pick his car up from outside The Gaslight Club. It wasn’t there. Ah it must be outside The Queens; not there either. Ashwood Park Hotel then. Wrong. Prince of Wales perhaps.
No chance. Nineteenth Hole. Yes that’s where it will be. But it wasn’t.
Then I spotted it on the grass opposite the Golf Club. Right Jim, there it is, have you got your keys? Er, no.
Well I drove him to the side of the Mercedes and the window was right down and the keys were in the ignition. Ah, I knew I wouldn’t have mislaid them he said. What time is it? Look the Golf Club’s door is open let’s nip in for a few scoops.
Loads more on Jimmy one day
Tony Beswick.