History of Buxton
Let’s talk about the history of Buxton. Aquae Arnemetiae or the “The Spa-Town of the Sacred Groves” was a small town in the Roman province of Britannia. The settlement was based around its natural warm springs.
Today it is the town of Buxton, Derbyshire in England. It sits at a height of over 1000ft, making it the highest town in England!
Buxton Waters
The famous Buxton water comes from the outlets of a subterranean reservoir where the water has sat beneath the Crescent for many years. This is before it comes to the surface at a constant temperature of 82°F.
Buxton’s fame as a health spa dates back to Roman times. They were thought to have settled here around AD80 and built baths. The remains of which were excavated in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The settlement was built around a clear, warm-water spring that still send up more than one million litres a day from the original source underneath the Buxton Crescent. Over the years Buxton became popular with pilgrims wanting to take the waters to treat rheumatism and one such famous visitor benefited from the springs; Mary Queen of Scots!
The Crescent
The Crescent was designed by John Carr of York for the 5th Duke of Devonshire, William Cavendish as an attempt to establish Buxton as a fashionable Georgian town.
The design incorporated a hotel, town houses and an assembly room. His plan worked, the assembly room was considered the social heart of Buxton and people travelled from all over the country to visit.
The hotel was rumoured to have private entrances to Buxton’s famous baths, which drew many visitors to stay in the Crescent’s hotel. The assembly room was soon turned into a hotel and so there was two hotels for guests to choose from. They were classed as top-tier resting places during the Georgian Era, mainly due to their access to the thermal waters.
It didn’t last
Like many things, it didn’t last. Eventually the Crescent became too costly to repair and it was sold to the local council in 1993. The council acted as temporary caretaker of the building until an investor or buyer could be found.
Due to many setbacks in investors, the right to Buxton’s water (by Nestle), funding and COVID, the Crescent eventually reopened in October 2020 as a 5 star luxury hotel, spa and natural baths under the Ensana brand.
That’s all for now…
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