Final Heritage Events of Buxton Our Street Programme
Hundreds have celebrated Buxton’s high street and heritage in 2023, thanks to the town’s creative organisations as part of the Buxton Our Street Cultural Consortium, the group delivering the cultural programme of the town’s Heritage Action Zone project. Now, see what’s coming up in 2024 before the programme draws to a close in March.
What’s Already Happened?
Buxton’s curing culture, glorious gargoyles, lost cats and fantastically fabulous women are just a few elements of the town’s heritage which were celebrated in 2023 and hundreds of people have taken part in the free events. If you missed out on any of the fun, don’t worry, there’s plenty more to come!
Highlights last year include The Curing Chemists (aka Babbling Vagabonds Theatre Company) who held workshops in the cellars of the Buxton Crescent and introduced their ‘remedies’ of yesteryear. Unsuspecting members of the public were treated to potions for ailments including moustache shyness and stoat infestations!
In February 2023, writing groups and school groups got involved in The Word on the Street, a programme run by local storyteller Creeping Toad (aka Gordon MacLellan). Old photographs were used as prompts to think about the space on the high street and poems and short stories were created.
The Lost Cats of Buxton took place in partnership with Buxton Museum & Art Gallery, inspired by the scimitar-toothed cats, cave lions and lynx that once roamed the hills of Buxton. Local schools, residents and artists did drawings, made puppets and masks and took part in a procession along the main shopping street in the town.
During Spring Fair, the Wye Dragon, an enormous puppet, made its way down the High Street with thanks to Two Left Hands and their samba band. Also in the spring, young musicians from Peak District Senior String and Wind Bands received mentoring from the Northern Chamber Orchestra and then delighted shoppers to live performances in a project by Buxton International Festival and Orchestras Live.
During the summer festival season, the Old Haunts walking tour app was launched as part of the Fringe Festival. The app is still available for free, download it via the QR code at The Pump Room.
In the autumn, the fantastically fabulous women of Derbyshire were celebrated through song, music and dance as part of the Resonate project, which saw live performances in the Pump Room. The project was run by Mat Hatters Music and REC Youth Drama.
The town’s 150 plus grotesques took centre stage at gargoyle-making sessions in The Green Man Gallery and with Buxton Civic Association, with thanks to Babbling Vagabonds and Creeping Toad. And young people were invited to free music making sessions with the BBC Young Folk Musician of the Year, Ríoghnach Connolly. The sessions were run by The Buxton Our Street Youth Panel who worked with High Peak Community Arts.
Mark Hornsey from Babbling Vagabonds is involved with Buxton Our Street and says:
“Buxton is an incredibly beautiful town and that inspires creativity. There are so many incredible organisations here, and it’s been brilliant to work with just a few of them to inject some fun and energy into Spring Gardens. We’ve only really scratched the surface of the town’s history and culture, but we need to give massive thanks to all the wonderful people who’ve taken part in the free events and the incredible organisations who’ve partnered with us.”
What’s coming up?
Coming up in 2024, there will be more free youth music workshops with the BBC Folk Singer of the Year during February half-term and the final grotesque design and make workshop takes place this month.
- Grotesque Workshop – Wednesday 17 January, 7pm-9pm, The Green Man Gallery (no need to book).
Then, in February, will be the grand finale with large-scale illuminations lighting up buildings throughout the town from 21-24 February during Illuminate Buxton with Illuminos.
- Wednesday 21 – Fairfield Band Room, Waterswallows Road, Fairfield
- Thursday 22 – St James’ Church, Harpur Hill Road, Harpur Hill
- Friday 23 – Burbage Christ Church, St John’s Road, Burbage
- Saturday 24 – Royal Exchange building, Spring Gardens, Lower Buxton
6.30pm-8pm. Visit buxtonourstreet.co.uk/what-s-on for more information.
Last updated 06.02.2024
More About Buxton Our Street
Buxton Our Street was set up with the aim of making the High Street a more enjoyable place to be and has bought live performance, music, art, dance, puppetry, and general creativity to Spring Gardens.
It is the cultural and community engagement strand of the Buxton High Street Heritage Action Zone, a government-funded programme delivered by Historic England with support from High Peak Borough Council. Its role is to support and deliver a range of creative activities around Spring Garden, to breathe new life into the High Street and make it a more engaging place to spend time.
Website: www.buxtonourstreet.co.uk
From November 2025, this website is owned and managed by Buxton Civic Association Ltd - Charity No. 258163.
Buxton Civic Association celebrates the natural and human heritage of Buxton including its outstanding buildings and wildlife. We conserve and enhance this heritage and advocate its importance in making Buxton a special place to live or to visit.
