The aims of the Society are to engage in activities that explore and explain all aspects of the history of the market town of Buxton, the Peak District and its surrounding areas.
The Buxton Local History Society was originally founded in 1922 with the grand title of The Buxton Archaeological, Local and Natural History Society. Despite the recent shortening of the title, the aims of the Society are unchanged and remain to engage in activities that explore and explain all aspects of the history of the market town of Buxton, the Peak District and its surrounding areas.
Regular meetings are held to hear talks and presentations by members and other speakers with a knowledge and interest in the area. Meetings are held at Trinity Church Hall, Hardwick Mount, on the third Wednesday of the month, commencing at 7:30pm. Visitors are most welcome.
Contact: info@buxtonhistory.org.uk
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Buxton Local History Society.
Programme 2024
November 20th. The Green Man Gallery. Gill Williamson.
December. No meeting.
2025
January 15th. Buxton Cottage Hospital. John Kingsland.
February 19th. AGM + website review.
March 19th. The Goyt Valley, a journey through Time. David Stirling.
April 16th. Pre-Roman Buxton. Ian Parker-Heath.
May 21st. Roman Buxton. Catherine Parker-Heath.
Locally known as “The Dome”, the main buildings of the University of Derby Buxton Campus were originally built in the 1780s as the “Great Stables” for the hotels and houses built by the 5th Duke of Devonshire in The Crescent. The stables were an irregular octagon with a central, open, circular courtyard surrounded by a colonnade so that horses could be exercised in inclement weather. In 1858, half of the building was given over to the Buxton Bath Charity so that poor people, mainly from the Manchester cotton mills, could be accommodated whilst receiving hydropathic treatments for arthritis and rheumatic conditions. In 1876 the remainder of the building was given to the charity and in 1881, to increase the number of beds, the dome was added to enclose the central courtyard, becoming “The Devonshire Hospital and Buxton Bath Charity”. The title “Royal” was conferred on the hospital by George V in 1934. This continued until 1948 when the hospital was taken into the National Health Service and finally closed in 2000. The site was acquired by the University of Derby, converted, and reopened in 2006.