Buxton Crescent

It wasn't what I originally went out to explore but as someone was hanging around where I wanted to go I decided to head for the plan B

No doubt, many people have heard of and drunk Buxton bottled Spring water (which comes from 5,000 feet below). But how many are aware that in Buxton it is free! Just opposite the Tourist Information Office there is a public well where anyone can fill their flasks and bottles. Opposite The Crescent is the Pump Room, next to St Ann's Well. The Pump Room was built in the late 19th Century as a place where people could come to take the unique thermal mineral water. It ceased use as a Pump Room in the mid 1970s and became a Micrarium where microscopic organisms and geological specimens could be studied by the public. This was the world's first Micrarium but sadly closed in 1995.  

 
 
 
 
 
 

Buxton Opera House

I've been looking at this for a while and decided that as there was a Pink Floyd tribute act on called Think Floyd that I'd had a nosey and see what was what

It was built in 1903 and designed by Frank Matcham, one of Britain's finest theatre architects. He also designed two famous London theatres: the London Palladium (1910) and the London Coliseum (1904). The Opera House ran as a successful theatre, receiving touring companies until 1927, when it was turned into a cinema. Silent films were shown until 1932 when the theatre was wired for sound and could present ‘talkies’. The Opera House also became the venue for an annual summer theatre festival from 1936 to 1942, two of them in conjunction with Lillian Bayliss and her London-based Old Vic company. After the Second World War, the theatre continued to serve as a cinema, gradually falling into disrepair until it was closed in 1976 and renovated in 1979. Since then, the Opera House has been a full-time venue for stage productions, presenting approximately 450 performances per year, including opera, dance, musical theatre, pantomime, comedy, drama, children’s shows and concerts. The theatre is staffed by a small full-time technical crew for all the backstage work, setting up all the shows and artists that appear. Volunteers from the local community are also employed for front-of-house duties including bar work and ushers.

I was sat on the roof to the left of this pic for about an hour listening and I've got to say there pretty good for a tribute act and the sound where I was sat was top notch :D

The view over the Pavilion Gardens




Stacked pic

St. Johns

The chapel was built in 1733 by local people using local materials who also raised money to pay for a minister. A tower was added in 1755 The appearance of the chapel is more that of a Georgian farmhouse with a chimney stack than a church. It consists of a two-storey nave, a one-storey chapel and vestry, and a three-stage tower with a saddleback roof. The tower has an external staircase, a bell chamber and a porch with stone benches. A chimney rises from the middle of the south wall. The windows are Georgian in style, with sashes and small panes of glass. Inside the chapel are box pews, an octagonal pulpit and a carved reading desk. The chancel is panelled and divided from the nave by rails consisting of turned balusters. Hanging from a lintel at the entrance to the chancel are similar balusters forming an arch. In the chancel is a small stone font with an oak cover. At the west end is a gallery on which is the coat of arms of the Stopford family who lived in nearby Saltersford Hall in the 17th century. On the floor are grave slabs relating to the Turner family who were later residents of the hall. Chapel registers date from 1770.

This is a corking little church, I was driving back over tiny country lanes and spotted this just sat waiting I walked up and tested the door which creaked open, I had to shout in a few times just to check it was really empty.

Harpur Hill Tunnel

Originally I was heading into a church but it was sealed up tighter than quire boy :(

So I headed over to the strange tunnel into Harpur Hill, Buxton

I have absolutely no history on what it is or what it could have been for but it's a decent little mooch :)

And finally I filmed the last 100 yards or so