Built in 1780 the Crescent was a revolutionary new type of building and the forerunner of the hotel as we know it today – an idea brought to Britain from the continent to serve the ever-increasing numbers ‘taking the waters’ at Buxton Spa.
Britain’s first ‘Leisure Resort
’The Crescent comprised two hotels, St Ann’s and The Great Hotel. In addition, there were originally seven lodging houses, including a town house for the Duke of Devonshire himself, but soon the hotels were to expand towards the centre of the Crescent progressively absorbing these individual dwellings.
On the ground floor shops were ranged beneath the arcade and included a draper, druggist, perfumer, hair and wig dresser, a post office and a lending library. In the basement food was prepared for guests, but more often brought in from a variety of taverns and chop houses across Buxton.
The Assembly Rooms, part of the ‘Great Hotel’ at the eastern end of the Crescent were the hub of 18th Century social life, where visitors danced, met friends and played cards. Residents of the Crescent would visit each other ‘at home’ drink tea, and catch up on the gossip about new arrivals at the spa.
The Crescent was the brainchild of the 5th Duke of Devonshire and designed by John Carr, his architect, appointed for the ‘improvement of Buxton’. It is without doubt one of the finest buildings of its kind anywhere in the world and is, as the Duke intended, a fitting rival to the crescents of Bath.
To take a step or two inside is to feel truly privileged
The grandeur of the building from the exterior is easy to see - but the illusion is shattered as you enter its darkened halls. Unoccupied for more than ten years now, decay is in danger of taking control. Peeling paint, paper hanging from the walls, broken floors and ceilings overburdened by the weight of rainwater that is the legacy of a leaking roof - now repaired.
A truly sad sight, yet strangely exciting experience
The building aspires to live so that once again the halls and staircases will resound with a multitude of voices, the Natural Baths with the splashing of visitors literally soaking up their Victorian charm and the Assembly Rooms resuming their role as the life and soul of the party once again!
The Crescent is soon to be the subject of a major restoration project. A partnership between The Trevor Osborne Property Group, CP Holdings Limited, High Peak Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council with major funding from Heritage Lottery Fund.
More information – www.buxtoncrescent.co.uk |
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