EPW018991 ENGLAND (1927). The Crescent, Buxton, 1927

Buxton Crescent, designed by the architect John Carr - inspired by Bath Crescent- and built for the Fifth Duke of Devonshire between 1780 and 1789 The whole building was closed when major structural problems were discovered in the assembly rooms, and by 1992 lay empty. Renovation works were delayed due to the need to protect the important commercial thermal water springs under the building (now bottled uphill past the ailway station) but by 2016 work was underway. The plan for the building complex is for a 79-bedroom 5-star hotel, natural baths, a visitor interpretation centre, a thermal mineral water spa and specialist shops

The Grove Hotel, closed a few years ago and in 2016 unused, although the ground floor shops continue in use.

This building is known as The Pump Room and is being renovated as part of the 2010's Crescent renovation. Built in 1894, thermal water was served here until the 1970's.People could pay to take the unique thermal mineral waters in comfort, rather than take water free of charge from the well outside - the outside source remains and is popular.

The Old Hall Hotel. This picture nicely shows the "modern" frontage with the ancient building behind it. See wikipedia article [[Old Hall Hotel]] Parts of the building from 1574,mostly rebuilt 1670. Mary Queen of Scots said to have stayed here when visiting (in captivity) to take the waters. Daniel Defoe also stayed here. In 2016 the bar had two cask beers from Sharp's, Cornwall including an exclusive brew.

This hilly area with its footpaths and the War Memorial is called The Slopes.

St Anne's Well is just here. Since the Crescent building was built over the springs, this has been the free source of Buxton water- just the same as sold in the shops, but here thermally warm. Rejuvenating the old Crescent buildings in the 00's and 10's was complicated by the need to protect the source of the water. Water from this source has been known since Roman times. Although once closed during the annual Well Dressing week, since 2000 the well has been kept flowing apart from a couple of days in error in 2012. The bottling plant is now farther out past the railway station (since c 2012).

North Western Railway station. Note the beautiful symmetry with the Midland Railway station just by. Towns had a sense of their dignity then, but in the 80's this half of the paired stations was destroyed to make way for a main road. Only the gable end remains. There was another place the road could have gone, which is now occupied by a part- deserted concrete shopping mall and bleak open car parks.

Midland Railway station. Note it is the double of the North Wetsrern Railway station opposite.

Baths