79-686: The Peak District Boundary Walk is a circular 190-mile (310 km) walking trail, starting and finishing at Buxton and broadly following the boundary of the Peak District , Britain's first national park. The route was developed by the Friends of the Peak District (a branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England ) and was launched on 17 June 2017. The Friends of the Peak District's founders, Gerald and Ethel Haythornthwaite , proposed
158-517: A University of Derby campus at the site of the former Devonshire Royal Hospital , as well as the Buxton & Leek College formed by the August 2012 merger of the university with Leek College. Secondary schools include Buxton Community School , at the former College Road site of Buxton College , and St. Thomas More Catholic School . Others include Buxton Junior School, St Anne's Catholic Primary,
237-728: A civil parish formed from "Marsden in Almondbury" and "Marsden in Huddersfield", on 1 April 1937 the parish was abolished to form Colne Valley Urban District . In 1931 the parish had a population of 5,723. Marsden is the last significant settlement on the West Yorkshire side of the Standedge Pennine crossing into Greater Manchester . The village is in the southern edge of the South Pennines , with
316-704: A trolley bus service from 1938 to 1963. After the Second World War, extremely cheap fares (1d. return) allowed school children from Huddersfield access to the moors around Marsden during summer holidays. The Huddersfield Narrow Canal and the Huddersfield-Manchester railway enter the parallel rail and canal Standedge Tunnels about half a mile (0.8 km) to the west of the village centre. The Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team has its headquarters at Marsden Fire Station from where
395-637: A Grade II* listed public park of Special Historic Interest. Milner's design was a development of Joseph Paxton 's landscape for the Serpentine Walks in the 1830s. The 122-room Palace Hotel , also designed by Currey and built in 1868, is a prominent feature of the Buxton skyline on the hill above the railway station. The town is overlooked by Grin Low hill, 1,441 feet (439 m) above sea level, and by Grinlow Tower (locally also called Solomon's Temple ),
474-537: A charity hospital for the "sick poor" by Henry Currey , architect to the 7th Duke of Devonshire's . Currey had previously worked on St Thomas' Hospital in London. It became known as the Devonshire Royal Hospital in 1934. Later phases of conversion after 1881 were by local architect Robert Rippon Duke , including his design for The Devonshire Dome as the world's largest unsupported dome , with
553-641: A diameter of 144 feet (44 m) – larger than the Pantheon at 141 feet (43 m), St. Peter's Basilica at 138 feet (42 m) in Rome , and St Paul's Cathedral at 112 feet (34 m). The record was surpassed only by space frame domes such as the Georgia Dome (840 feet (260 m)). The building and its surrounding Victorian villas are now part of the University of Derby . Currey also designed
632-564: A few times. Buxton have been competitors in the Conference League . Buxton Raceway was due to hold a floodlit 2019 BriSCA Formula 2 World Final. Buxton's football club, Buxton F.C. , plays at Silverlands and Buxton Cricket Club at the Park Road ground. Other team clubs are Buxton Rugby Union and Buxton Hockey Club. There are also four Hope Valley League football clubs: Buxton Town, Peak Dale and Buxton Christians play at
711-488: A five-bay front with a Tuscan doorway. The Grade I listed Crescent was built in 1780–1784 for the 5th Duke of Devonshire, as part of his effort to turn Buxton into a fashionable spa town. Modelled on Bath's Royal Crescent , it was designed by architect John Carr , together with the neighbouring irregular octagon and colonnade of the Great Stables. These were completed in 1789, but in 1859 were largely converted to
790-526: A lane to Meerbrook across the reservoir, heading north up a footpath around the end of a ridge, across farmland to the River Dane , crossing a footbridge, following footpaths across hilly farmland, up the lane beside Clough Brook to Wildboarclough (10.1 miles/16.3 km). 18. Wildboarclough to Bollington Up and over Shuttlingsloe hill summit (the highest point on the Boundary Walk), down
869-701: A spa town for its geothermal spring, which gushes at a steady 28 °C. The spring waters are piped to St Ann's Well , a shrine since medieval times at the foot of The Slopes , opposite the Crescent and near the town centre. The well was called one of the Seven Wonders of the Peak by the philosopher Thomas Hobbes in his 1636 book De Mirabilibus Pecci: Being The Wonders of the Peak in Darby-shire. The Dukes of Devonshire became involved in 1780, when
SECTION 10
#1732788108277948-628: A three-week theatre event from the end of July through the first half of August, was held in Buxton from 1994 to 2013; it moved to Harrogate in 2014 but returned to Buxton in 2023. The Opera House offers a year-long programme of drama, concerts, comedy and other events. In September 2010, the Paxton Suite in the Pavilion Gardens reopened as the Pavilion Arts Centre after a £2.5 million reconstruction. Located behind
1027-492: A track off the moor, alongside Millthorpe Brook and along a lane and path through fields to Millthorpe (9.3 miles/15.0 km). 11. Millthorpe to Beeley Out of Millthorpe to the west then south through Shillito Wood past the ancient stone cross, across open moorland past Nelson's monument on Birchen Edge , along a track around Gibbet Moor past Hob Hurst's House burial mound, down a path by Beeley Brook into Beeley (10.6 miles/17.1 km). 12. Beeley to Winster Up
1106-528: A two-storey granite, crooked, crenelated folly built in 1834 by Solomon Mycock to provide work for local unemployed, and restored in 1996 after lengthy closure. In the other direction, on Corbar Hill , 1,433 feet (437 m) above sea level, is the tall wooden Corbar Cross. Originally given to the Catholic Church by the Duke of Devonshire in 1950 to mark Holy Year, it was replaced in the 1980s. In 2010, during
1185-641: A visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the UK, it was cut down as a protest against a long history of child abuse at the Catholic St Williams School in Market Weighton , Yorkshire. The Buxton ecumenical group Churches Together brought in several benefactors to replace the cross with a smaller one in May 2011. Many pubs and inns in Buxton are listed buildings reflecting the historic character of
1264-551: Is a noted employer. Surrounded by the Peak District National Park, it offers a range of cultural events; tourism is a major industry, with over a million visitors to Buxton each year. Buxton is the main centre for overnight accommodation in the Peak District, with over 64 per cent of the park's visitor bed space. The Buxton Mineral Water Company, owned by Nestlé , extracts and bottles mineral waters. The Buxton Advertiser appears weekly. Potters of Buxton
1343-526: Is a popular local bouldering venue with many small outcrops giving problems mainly in the lower grades. These are described in the 2003 guidebook High over Buxton: A Boulderer's Guide . Hoffman Quarry at Harpur Hill , sitting prominently above Buxton, is a local venue for sport climbing . Youth groups include the Kaleidoscope Youth Theatre at the Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton Squadron Air Cadets , Derbyshire Army Cadet Force and
1422-593: Is an opera and arts event held in July at the Opera House and other venues. It includes some literary events in the mornings, concerts and recitals in the afternoon, and operas, many rarely performed, in the evenings. The quality of the opera programme has improved in recent years, after decades when, according to critic Rupert Christiansen , the festival featured "work of such mediocre quality that I just longed for someone to put it out of its misery." Running alongside
1501-503: Is celebrated with fire juggling and giant puppets. Marsden is the home of Mikron Theatre Company , the world's only professional theatre company to tour by Narrowboat. Marsden's 'Cuckoo Day festival' is named after a local legend of the Marsden Cuckoo: Marsden is popular as a location for television and film productions. These productions have used the village: Marsden was the birthplace of Henrietta Thompson,
1580-597: Is developing techniques to rehabilitate the moor. Butterley Reservoir with its distinctive spillway is near Marsden inside the Peak District National Park. The Peak District Boundary Walk runs across the moors and into Marsden. In chronostratigraphy , the British sub-stage of the Carboniferous period, the Marsdenian derives its name from Marsden. Several generations of tracks and roads have crossed
1659-469: Is in the South Pennines close to the Peak District which lies to the south. The village is 7 miles (11 km) west of Huddersfield at the confluence of the River Colne and Wessenden Brook . It was an important centre for the production of woollen cloth. In 2020, the village had an estimated population of 3,768. Marsden grew wealthy in the 19th century from the production of woollen cloth. It
SECTION 20
#17327881082771738-672: Is in the western part of the Peak District, between the Lower Carboniferous limestone of the White Peak to the east and the Upper Carboniferous shale , sandstone and gritstone of the Dark Peak to the west. The early settlement (of which only the parish church of St Anne , built in 1625, remains) was largely made of limestone, while the present buildings of locally quarried sandstone, mostly date from
1817-467: Is sited on the Huddersfield line . Services are operated by TransPennine Express to locations including Huddersfield , Manchester Piccadilly , Leeds and Hull . Local bus services are operated primarily by First West Yorkshire . Routes run to Huddersfield, Honley , Slaithwaite , Saddleworth and Oldham . There was a tram service from Huddersfield to Marsden between 1914 and 1938 and
1896-490: Is still home to Bank Bottom Mill , later known as Marsden Mill, and to John Edward Crowther Ltd , formerly one of the largest mills in Yorkshire. The Crowthers moved to Marsden in 1876, beginning a long and profitable association with cloth manufacturing in the town. During the 1930s, Bank Bottom Mill covered an area of 14 acres, employed 680 looms and provided employment for 1,900 workers. The Church of St Bartholomew
1975-652: Is the Buxton Festival Fringe, known as a warm-up for the Edinburgh Fringe . The Buxton Fringe features drama, music, dance, comedy, poetry, art exhibitions and films around the town. In 2018, 181 entrants signed up and comedy and theatre categories were at their largest. The week-long Four Four Time music festival in February brings a variety of rock, pop, folk, blues, jazz and world music . The International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival ,
2054-539: Is the highest market town in England. Buxton's elevation makes it cooler and wetter than surrounding towns, with a daytime temperature typically about 2 °C lower than Manchester. A Met Office weather station has collected climate data for the town since 1867, with digitised data from 1959 available online. In June 1975, the town suffered a freak snowstorm that stopped play during a cricket match. The many visitors to Buxton for its thermal waters, particularly in
2133-548: Is the local silver band . The village hosts festivals and cultural events throughout the year. Marsden Cuckoo Day, a day-long festival held annually in Spring (April), holds clog dancing , a duck race , music, a procession and a "cuckoo walk". The Marsden Jazz Festival is held every October, and the winter Imbolc Festival, in which the 'triumph of the Green Man ' (who represents the coming spring), over Jack Frost (the winter)
2212-424: Is the town's oldest department store, founded in 1860. The Buxton lime industry has shaped the town's development and landscape since its 17th-century beginnings. Buxton Lime Firms (BLF) was formed by 13 quarry owners in 1891. BLF became part of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in 1926 and Buxton was the headquarters for I.C.I. Lime Division until the 1970s. Several limestone quarries lie close, including
2291-855: The Limestone Way , crossing the River Dove from Derbyshire into Staffordshire , following the Manifold Trail along the river upstream through Ilam , over the footbridge and up past Musden Low hilltop and back down into Calton village, following the steep footpath down to the River Manifold , downstream along the Manifold Way to Waterhouses on the A523 road and north to the hamlet of Waterfall (8 miles/13 km). 16. Waterfall to Tittesworth Reservoir Across fields to join
2370-607: The London Coliseum and the Hackney Empire . Opposite is an original Penfold octagonal post box. The opera house is attached to the Pavilion Gardens, Octagonal Hall (built in 1875) and the smaller Pavilion Arts Centre (previously The Hippodrome and the Playhouse Theatre. ). Buxton Pavilion Gardens , designed by Edward Milner , contain 93,000 m of gardens and ponds and were opened in 1871. These form
2449-607: The River Sett into Hayfield (9.7 miles/15.6 km). 3. Hayfield to Glossop Along the Sett Valley Trail west out of Hayfield, north along the Pennine Bridleway, over Lantern Pike hill, through Rowarth , along Cown Edge Way (over Cown Edge ridge and the top of Coombes Edge) into Glossop (9 miles/14 km). 4. Glossop to Greenfield (Dovestone Reservoir) Past Swineshaw Reservoir , along
Peak District Boundary Walk - Misplaced Pages Continue
2528-525: The River Wye up to Chee Dale , through Wormhill , to the west of Peter Dale and through Hay Dale nature reserve to Peak Forest (10.2 miles/16.4 km). 2. Peak Forest to Hayfield From A623 road at Peak Forest across fields to Blackbrook (on the outskirts of Chapel-en-le-Firth ), heading north across farmland to reach and follow the Pennine Bridleway , past Mount Famine and along
2607-611: The Royal Forest of the Peak on the Fairfield side of the River Wye. Monastic farms were set up in Fairfield in the 13th century and in the 14th; its royal ownership was reflected in the name of Kyngesbucstones . By 1460, Buxton's spring had been pronounced a holy one dedicated to St Anne, who was canonised in 1382. A chapel had appeared there by 1498. Built on the River Wye , and overlooked by Axe Edge Moor , Buxton became
2686-749: The Sea Cadet Corps , in addition to units of the Scouts & Guide Association. Buxton has three Masonic Lodges and a Royal Arch Chapter, which meets at the Masonic Hall, George Street. Phoenix Lodge of Saint Ann No. 1235 was consecrated in 1865, Buxton Lodge No. 1688 in 1877, and High Peak Lodge No. 1952 in 1881. The Royal Arch Chapter is attached to Phoenix Lodge of Saint Ann, and bears the same name and number, it being consecrated in 1872. Regional TV news comes from Salford-based BBC North West and ITV Granada . Television signals are received from
2765-633: The University of Derby occupies historic premises. Buxton is twinned with Oignies in France and Bad Nauheim in Germany. The origins of the name are unclear. It may derive from the Old English for Buck Stone or for Rocking Stone . The town grew in importance in the late 18th century, when it was developed by the Dukes of Devonshire , with a resurgence a century later as Victorians were drawn to
2844-537: The William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire used profits from his copper mines to develop it as a spa in the style of Bath . Their ancestor Bess of Hardwick had brought one of her four husbands, the Earl of Shrewsbury , to "take the waters" at Buxton in 1569, shortly after he became the gaoler of Mary, Queen of Scots , and took Mary there in 1573. She called Buxton " La Fontagne de Bogsby ". She stayed at
2923-543: The Winter Hill and the local relay transmitters. Local radio stations are BBC Radio Derby on 96.0FM and Greatest Hits Radio Derbyshire (High Peak) (formerly High Peak Radio) on 106.4FM. The Buxton Advertiser is the town’s weekly local newspaper. Marsden, West Yorkshire Marsden is a large village in the Colne Valley , in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees , West Yorkshire , England. It
3002-505: The " Tunstead Superquarry ", the largest producer of high-purity industrial limestone in Europe, employing 400. The quarrying sector also provides jobs in limestone processing and distribution. Other industrial employers include the Health & Safety Laboratory , which engages in health and safety research and incident investigations and maintains over 350 staff locally. The town hosts
3081-427: The 18th and 19th centuries, led to several new buildings to provide hospitality facilities. The Old Hall Hotel is one of the town's oldest buildings. It was owned by George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury , who with his wife, Bess of Hardwick, acted as the "gaolers" of Mary, Queen of Scots, who came to Buxton several times to take the waters, her final visit being in 1584. The present building dates from 1670, and has
3160-497: The A53 Buxton to Leek road, is a motor sports circuit set up in 1974, hosting banger and stock car racing, as well as drifting events. It was home to the speedway team Buxton High Edge Hitmen in the mid-1990s before the team moved to a custom-built track to the north of the original one. The original track at High Edge Raceway was among the longest and trickiest in the UK. The new track is more conventional, and has been improved
3239-477: The Devonshire Hospital and Buxton Bath Charity, built in 1879 and accidentally lost for the latter part of the 20th century during construction work, before being found and restored in 1994. When the railways arrived in Buxton in 1863, Buxton railway station had been designed by Joseph Paxton , previously gardener and architect to William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire. Paxton also contributed
Peak District Boundary Walk - Misplaced Pages Continue
3318-601: The Etherow-Goyt Valley Way by Bottoms Reservoir , past Arnfield Reservoir along the Pennine Bridleway, between Higher Swineshaw and Lower Swineshaw reservoirs, over Swineshaw Moor, rejoining the Pennine Bridleway up to Dovestone Reservoir near Greenfield (9.8 miles/15.8 km). 5. Dovestone Reservoir to Marsden Along the west wide of Dovestone Reservoir, along the Oldham Way over Pots and Pans hilltop, along Shaw Rocks ridge, across fields to
3397-630: The Fairfield Centre and Blazing Rag at the Kents Bank Recreation Ground. Buxton has two 18-hole golf courses. Cavendish Golf Club ranked among the top 100 in England. It was designed by the renowned Alister MacKenzie and dates from 1925. At Fairfield is Buxton & High Peak Golf Club . Founded in 1887 on the site of Buxton Racecourse , it is the oldest in Derbyshire. The hillside round Solomon's Temple
3476-718: The First World War . Granville Military Hospital was set up at the Buxton Hydropathic Hotel, with the Palace Hotel annexed. The author Vera Brittain trained as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse at the Devonshire Hospital in 1915. The Royal Engineers based in Buxton used the Pavilion Gardens' lakes for training to build pontoon bridges. Prisoner of war camps at Ladmanlow and Peak Dale were established in 1917 to supply workers for
3555-459: The Grade II listed Buxton Baths , comprising the Natural Mineral Baths to the west of The Crescent and Buxton Thermal Baths to the east, which opened in 1854 on the site of the original Roman baths, together with the 1884 Pump Room opposite. The Thermal Baths, closed in 1963 and at risk of demolition, were restored and converted into a shopping arcade by conservation architects Derek Latham and Company. Architectural artist Brian Clarke contributed to
3634-434: The Hamps Way along the River Hamps , along a track over fields to Onecote village, heading north along a farm track over the hill beyond Mixon, along a minor road to the former Mermaid Inn on the Morridge , taking a footpath west down to Upper Hulme below The Roaches escarpment, along the Staffordshire Moors Walks to Tittesworth Reservoir (11.4 miles/18.3 km). 17. Tittesworth Reservoir to Wildboarclough Along
3713-468: The Limestone Way after Slaley through Grangemill and onto the Pennine Bridleway through Longcliffe to Roystone Grange. (10 miles/16 km). 14. Roystone Grange to Thorpe Around Hoe Grange and Ballidon limestone quarries, through Parwich village, heading south across fields to Fenny Bentley , following a footpath over the hill, crossing the Tissington Trail , along the lane into Thorpe (7.7 miles/12.4 km). 15. Thorpe to Waterfall Along
3792-574: The Opera House, it includes a 369-seat auditorium. The stage area can be converted into a separate 93-seat studio theatre. Buxton Museum and Art Gallery holds local artefacts, geological and archaeological samples (including the William Boyd Dawkins collection) and 19th and 20th-century paintings, with work by Brangwyn , Chagall , Chahine and their contemporaries. There are also displays by local and regional artists and other events. The Pavilion Gardens hold regular arts, crafts, antiques and jewellery fairs. Buxton's Well Dressing Festival in
3871-402: The Romans were in Buxton throughout their occupation of Britain. Batham Gate ("road to the bath town") is a Roman road from Templebrough Roman fort in South Yorkshire to Navio Roman Fort and on to Buxton. The name Buckestones was first recorded in the 12th century as part of the Peverel family's estate . From 1153 the town was within the Duchy of Lancaster's Crown estate, close to
3950-405: The South Pennines , the limestone scenery of the Derbyshire Dales , woodlands, reservoirs and rural farming countryside. Most of the trail is in Derbyshire but also goes through sections of Staffordshire , Cheshire and Yorkshire . The total ascent is 7,590 metres (24,900 ft) with a highest point of 506 metres (1,660 ft) at the summit of Shutlingsloe . There is an official guide to
4029-403: The West Riding County Amateur Premier Division for the 2008–09 season. They are currently members of the Yorkshire Amateur Football League Above the village at Hemplow, on Mount Road is a sports ground that hosts Marsden's cricket, golf and tennis clubs, as well as Hemplow Bowling Club. Marsden golf course was created in 1920 and was designed by the legendary Alister MacKenzie who also designed
SECTION 50
#17327881082774108-402: The boundary of the Peak District National Park to the south. It is surrounded on three sides by the moorland of Marsden and Meltham Moors with Saddleworth Moor nearby. Marsden has low level access only from the east along the Colne Valley . The Marsden Moor Estate , which surrounds Marsden to the west and south, includes several reservoirs; it is in the care of the National Trust , which
4187-472: The boundary of the Peak District National Park, which was subsequently established as the United Kingdom's first National Park in 1951. The route is waymarked with green markers and uses existing footpaths, tracks, quiet lanes, disused railway lines and a canal towpath. The start and finish is at the King's Head pub on Buxton Market Place, where a plaque has been installed by the Peak & Northern Footpaths Society (PNFS). The terrain covers open moorlands of
4266-460: The building housed the Buxton Micrarium Exhibition, an interactive display with 50 remote-controlled microscopes. The building was refurbished as part of the National Lottery -funded Buxton Crescent and Thermal Spa re-development. Beside it, added in 1940, is St Ann's Well . In October 2020 Ensana reopened the Crescent as a 5-star spa hotel, after a 17-year refurbishment. Nearby stands the imposing monument to Samuel Turner (1805–1878), treasurer of
4345-411: The dam, following the Kirklees Way into Holme (8.5 miles/13.7 km). 7. Holme to Langsett Along the Kirklees Way from Holme over the dam between Ramsden Reservoir and Brownhill Reservoir, up Crow Hill, along the Holme Valley Circular Walk across forested hillside, down the east side of Winscar Reservoir , along the Trans Pennine Trail by the south side of the River Don , across to and along
4424-463: The disused Cromford and High Peak Railway line out of the Upper Goyt Valley , down across the Cavendish golf course , through Buxton Pavilion Gardens and up to the market place (9.2 miles/14.8 km). Buxton Buxton is a spa town in the Borough of High Peak , Derbyshire, in the East Midlands region of England. It is England's highest market town , sited at some 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level. It lies close to Cheshire to
4503-400: The earlier 20th century, Buxton had a resurgence in the 1950s and 1970s. The Playhouse Theatre kept a repertory company and pop concerts were held at the Octagon (including the Beatles in 1963). The Opera House re-opened in 1979 with the launch of the Buxton Festival, and the town was being used as a base for exploring the Peak District. Although outside the National Park boundary, Buxton
4582-468: The east of Diggle , joining the Pennine Way over the moors, past Brun Clough and Black Moss, Swellands and Wessenden reservoirs, along the hillside heritage trail above Butterley Reservoir and down into Marsden (10.6 miles/17.1 km). 6. Marsden to Holme Heading east from Marsden over Deer Hill Moss, past Deer Hill Reservoir, across fields and along lanes past Meltham , up Royd Edge and Harden Moss Road track, down to Digley Reservoir , across
4661-455: The famous Augusta National, home of the Masters, and possibly the most famous golf course in the world. The cricket club, formed in 1865, runs two teams in the Drake's Huddersfield Cricket League and teams in five age groups in the Huddersfield Junior Cricket League. In 2010 Marsden gained Walkers are Welcome status in recognition of its well-maintained footpaths, facilities and information for walkers and ramblers. Marsden Silver Prize Band
4740-436: The footpath into Macclesfield Forest , past Trentabank , Ridgegate, Bottoms and Teggs Nose reservoirs, along the Gritstone Trail up through Tegg's Nose country park onward to Rainow village and along Kerridge Ridge past White Nancy monument to Bollington (8.5 miles/13.7 km). 19. Bollington to Whaley Bridge Rejoining the Gritstone Trail over Harrop Brook, following footpaths down to Macclesfield Canal , along
4819-487: The greatest: Harper Hill School with excellent teachers, Buxton Infant School, John Duncan School, Fairfield Infant & Nursery, Burbage Primary, Dove Holes CE Primary, Fairfield Endowed Junior, Peak Dale Primary, Leek College, Old Sams Farm Independent School, Hollinsclough CE Primary, Flash CE Primary, Earl Sterndale CE Primary, Peak Forest CE Primary and Combs Infant School. Above the town are two small speedway stadiums. Buxton Raceway (formerly High Edge Raceway), off
SECTION 60
#17327881082774898-435: The hillside to woods overlooking Chatsworth Park , back down to cross the River Derwent and the River Wye at Rowsley , down the lane past Stanton Woodhouse and up to Nine Ladies stone circle, continuing across Stanton Moor , down a footpath into Winster (6 miles/9.7 km). 13. Winster to Roystone Grange Along the Limestone Way across fields from Winster, over Bonsall Moor and into Bonsall village, rejoining
4977-484: The late 18th century. At the south edge of the town, the River Wye has carved an extensive limestone cavern known as Poole's Cavern . More than 330 yards (300 metres) of its chambers are open to the public. It contains Derbyshire's largest stalactite and some unique "poached egg" stalagmites . Its name recalls a local highwayman. Buxton has an oceanic climate with short, mild summers and long, cool winters. At about 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level, Buxton
5056-410: The layout of the Park Road circular estate. He is perhaps known best for his design of the Crystal Palace in London. Buxton Town Hall , designed by William Pollard, was completed in 1889. Buxton Opera House, designed by Frank Matcham in 1903, is the highest opera-house site in the country. Matcham, a theatre architect, was responsible for several London theatres, including the London Palladium ,
5135-405: The local limestone quarries. RAF Harpur Hill became an underground bomb-storage facility during World War II and the country's largest munitions dump. It was also the base for the Peak District section of the RAF Mountain Rescue Service . Prisoner of war camps for Italians and Germans were set up on Lismore Road, off Macclesfield Road and at Dove Holes. After a decline as a spa resort in
5214-421: The moors near Marsden. Mellor Bridge and Close Gate Bridge are both packhorse bridges . The A62 road between Huddersfield and Oldham passes through the village and the Standedge cutting some 2.5 miles (4 km) to the west. The road between Oldham and Huddersfield, especially the stretch between Marsden and Diggle , was named the fourth most dangerous road in Britain in 2003-2005. Marsden railway station
5293-403: The refurbishment; his scheme, designed in 1984 and completed in 1987, was for a landmark modern artwork, a barrel-vaulted modern stained glass ceiling to enclose the former baths — at the time the largest stained glass window in the British Isles — creating an atrial space for what became the Cavendish Arcade. Visitors could "take the waters" at The Pump Room until 1981. Between 1981 and 1995
5372-406: The reputed healing properties of its waters. The first inhabitants of Buxton made homes at Lismore Fields some 6,000 years ago. This Stone Age settlement, a Scheduled Monument , was rediscovered in 1984, with remains of a Mesolithic timber roundhouse and Neolithic longhouses. The Romans developed a settlement known as Aquae Arnemetiae ("Baths of the grove goddess"). Coins found show
5451-465: The side of Damflask Reservoir , up lanes to and through Royds Clough woods, over the A57 road, through Wyming Brook nature reserve, through woods above Rivelin Dams reservoirs, past Redmires Reservoirs , along paths and lanes to Ringinglow (9 miles/14 km). 10. Ringinglow to Millthorpe Heading south along the Houndkirk Bridleway past woodland onto Houndkirk Moor, down through woods, up onto Totley Moor , along Brown Edge and Flask Edge, down
5530-433: The site of the Old Hall Hotel , where Earl of Shrewsbury had built a lodging for visitors. According to John Jones of Derby, author of Buxtone's Bathes Benefyte (1572), the visitors to Shrewsbury's "goodly house" enjoyed a game of table bowls known as trou madame . The area features in the works of W. H. Auden , Jane Austen and Emily Brontë . Buxton's profile was boosted by a recommendation from Erasmus Darwin of
5609-459: The town, although many buildings have been demolished. Lost buildings of Buxton include grand spa hotels, the Midland Railway station, the Picture House cinema and Cavendish Girls' Grammar School. Cultural events include the annual Buxton Festival , festivals and performances at the Buxton Opera House, and shows running at other venues alongside them. Buxton Museum and Art Gallery offers year-round exhibitions. Buxton Festival, founded in 1979,
5688-610: The towpath before heading east into Lyme Park , over Higher Moor, across fields to Toddbrook Reservoir and into Whaley Bridge (9.5 miles/15.3 km). 20. Whaley Bridge to Buxton Out of Whaley Bridge along the River Goyt , past Toddbrook Reservoir, along the Midshires Way before heading upstream alongside the River Goyt up to and along the west shore of Fernilee Reservoir , across Errwood Reservoir dam, along
5767-423: The trail written by Andrew McCloy. In August 2022, ultra runner Catharine Crossley completed the whole route in 3 days 11 hours and 21 minutes. The trail is divided into twenty stages of about 10 miles (16 km) long, in a clockwise direction around the Peak District. 1. Buxton to Peak Forest From Buxton market place, along the Midshires Way past Staden Low , through Cowdale, down Deep Dale , along
5846-642: The volunteer team provides rescue cover for surrounding moorland areas and assists West Yorkshire Police with searches for missing people. The team was founded in 1965 and was based in Meltham before relocating in 2005. Marsden football club, Marsden F.C. , play their home matches at the Fall Lane ground. In its centenary year the 1st team were promoted from the West Riding County Amateur League Division 1, and played in
5925-420: The waters there and at Matlock , addressed to Josiah Wedgwood I. The Wedgwood family often visited Buxton and commended the area to their friends. Two of Charles Darwin 's half-cousins, Edward Levett Darwin and Reginald Darwin, settled there. The arrival of the railway in 1863 stimulated growth: the population of 1,800 in 1861 exceeded 6,000 by 1881. Buxton held a base for British and Canadian troops in
6004-633: The week up to the second Saturday in July has been running in its current form since 1840, to mark the provision of fresh water to the high point of the town's marketplace. As well as the dressing of the wells, it includes a carnival procession and a funfair on the marketplace. Well dressing is an ancient custom unique to the Peak District and Derbyshire and thought to date back to Roman and Celtic times, when communities would dress wells to give thanks for supplies of fresh water. Buxton's economy covers tourism, retail, quarrying, scientific research, light industry and mineral water bottling. The University of Derby
6083-702: The west and Staffordshire to the south, on the edge of the Peak District National Park . In 1974, the municipal borough merged with other nearby boroughs, including Glossop , to form the local government district and borough of High Peak. The town population was 22,115 at the 2011 Census. Sights include Poole's Cavern , a limestone cavern; St Ann's Well , fed by a geothermal spring bottled by Buxton Mineral Water Company; and many historic buildings, including John Carr's restored Buxton Crescent , Henry Currey 's Buxton Baths and Frank Matcham 's Buxton Opera House . The Devonshire Campus of
6162-442: The wooded north shore of Langsett Reservoir to Langsett (10.5 miles/16.9 km). 8. Langsett to Low Bradfield Out of Langsett village along Edge Cliff past Midhope Reservoir, across fields and along lanes to Bolsterstone , past the west end of More Hall Reservoir, across fields and along lanes to High Bradfield and Agden Reservoir , onto Low Bradfield (10.5 miles/16.9 km). 9. Low Bradfield to Ringinglow Along
6241-540: Was completed in 1899, although the nave and aisle had been in use from 1895, when the previous chapel was demolished. The tower was built in 1911 and the Parochial Hall in 1924 (with an extension in 1978). The church has a peal of 10 bells. Production of woollen cloth at Bank Bottom Mill ceased in 2003, with the loss of 244 jobs. Marsden was formerly a township and chapelry in the parishes of Almondbury and Huddersfield. On 26 March 1898 Marsden became
#276723