How successful, as a hotel designed to attract visitors, is the Buxton Crescent today?
What are the future plans for the Crescent?
The building will be
turned into a 79
bedroom 5 star luxury
hotel, with Spa
Treatment facilities
At the heart of the complex there'll be the original thermal pool, fed by
water from St Ann's Well that comes out of the ground at 27 degrees. In
addition there will be pampering treatments featuring mineral packed
mud, specially tailored lifestyle programs and a host of relaxation and
leisure facilities including an indoor / outdoor pool with water features,
sauna, steam and ice rooms, a fitness studio and beauty salon.
Future plans for the Buxton Crescent, with a half
inside and half outside pool
A hotel with everything that any
traveler would ever want. With
the Ball room being refurbished
allowing dances and formal
occasions to be held there. Also,
there will be a Spa Cafe and
several function rooms which
will incorporate period features
and decor.
As it stands the Buxton Crescent Hotel and Spa is set to open in 2019.
How successful has the Buxton Crescent been at attracting visitors in the past?
When it first opened, the Crescent acted as a popular destination to many people in the UK, with it being a destination for the rich or middle class to come
and sample the spring waters, as It was believed that they had medicinal qualities.
However, as time has passed, overseas travel has slowly become more
popular and more accessible, the demand for a luxury hotel within the
British isles decreased, as more exotic locations became more accessible
abroad.
Why was it built? By Whom? What was its
original purpose?
Why has it been built where it is?
The crescent in Buxton is located where it is, because the
Romans found a natural spring and developed a settlement
there, known as 'Aquae Arnametiae', or otherwise known as
the: "spa of the Goddess of the grove."
Natural Spring
rises at 27
degrees Celsius.
When it was first Built, It was
designed to rival Baths
Crescent. To be a residential
home for the 5th Duke and his
family, Spa baths and Place of
rest or Hotel.
It is not ideally located, as Buxton as a
town has developed, the Crescent has
found itself at the bottom of a hill - off
centered from the heart of Buxton. It's out
of the way a bit, if you didn't know it was
there you probably wouldn't see it.
The Crescent was built between 1779 and 1789 to the from the orders of The 5th Duke of
Devonshire, William Cavendish. It was designed by John Carr of York.
The Duke paid £120,000 for it's construction, or about £16,014,681.61 as of the start of 2017.
How has the crescent changed through time?
Buxton’s source of water has featured throughout the town’s history which extends to Roman times. Known as Aqua Arnemetiae, it was an important settlement and resort,
having one of only two sets of warm springs substantially developed by the Romans, the other being at Bath. Although falling into relative obscurity later, it served as a medieval
place of pilgrimage due to the thermal springs. The town was developed as a fashionable spa town in the late 18th century. Its biggest expansion came in time with the arrival of
the railways in the mid-19th century. By the end of the 19th century it was a significant inland resort and centre for hydrotherapy and other water-related treatments.
In 1970, the Buxton Crescent was turned into county council offices and the town's library, before it became vacant in 1992.
Partially refurbished into the tourist information center, but the majority of the building has been empty since 1972
The natural baths have evolved over many centuries and occupies the site of the
Roman baths located over the main mineral water spring. The current building was
constructed in 1853 to the design of Henry Curry , but it was altered in the 1920's
last time the springs were used to "take the waters" in 1963.
How does the Crescent compare with others
such as Bath? Do you think it's a Bath of the
North?
Baths Crescent
Buxtons Cresent
The Crescent built in Buxton by the 5th Duke of Devonshire, is one building with passageways and corridors linking the entire building, both the front and the back are uniform
also, and so the prowess and graditure of the front of the building, is also similarly uniformed on the back of the Crescent.
However, With the Bath Crescent when it was built, each origninal purchaser Baught a length of the facade along the front of the building, and then employed their own architect to build a house
behind to their own specifications, so what could appear two houses may actually be just one.
Baths crescent is 150m long (500ft), and is 30 townhouses are included in the property. Which iin size, is considerably bigger that Buxtons Crescent
Buxtons Crescent has been designed to be a "Bath of the North", desined to imitate the Royal
Crescent in Bath. Bath's Crescent is right at the heart of the city, a kind of a focal point - it is
centrally located, and would be difficult to miss if you visited Bath. whereas, Buxton's Crescent is
almost hidden at the bottom of a hill, off center from the heart of the town, and so if you didn't
know it was there it could be easily missed.