Drink in the history of this Derbyshire Town

Drink in the history of this Derbyshire Town

The first thing that springs to mind when you hear Buxton is probably a branded bottle of water (pun intended), and yes this Peak District town has been a source for the stuff for centuries - in fact I soon discovered it had a lot more history attached to it than I bargained for!  

It was a recent Winter's day when I arrived in Buxton — perfect for a window shop and café lunch.

After parking up and passing by Buxton’s beautiful Opera House I made my way into the shopping centre and spotted my first surprising glimpse of history…

The Old Hall Hotel

I’ve never really considered what or where the oldest hotel is in England, but how interesting to learn it just may be in-fact Buxton’s Old Hall Hotel!

I can only imagine the amount of visitors that have passed through those doors, each with their own story and reason for staying - except of course one famous guest I instantly recognised on a plaque, Mary Queen of Scots!

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Healing waters?

Buxton’s history stretches right back to the Roman conquest and the water here was thought to have healing properties. It comes from underground and my first real glimpse of the town’s connection was a fountain at the base of the Churchyard called St Anne’s Well.

Close to this was Buxton’s Visitor Centre where beyond the giftshop you could fill an empty glass bottle with water from the source, which kind of felt like an essential thing to do on your first trip here!

Mary Queen of Scots came to Buxton for the water with the hope it would help her Rheumatism.

Twin Crescents

Buxton Crescent reminded me of the grand architecture you find in Bath, so I wasn’t surprised to discover it was built with Bath’s Royal Crescent in mind, a place also well known for its water.

Antique Shops and Boutiques

Passing by Buxton’s antique shops was literally a window into the past, I was intrigued by the collections on display and wondered how they found their way here!

I couldn’t resist calling in to Charlotte’s Chocolates nearby with an abundance of tempting options on display. There were boutiques and independents within this small shopping centre too that proved ideal for a spontaneous spot of gift shopping.

Overall, Buxton made for an enjoyable few hours during my time in the Peak District — knowing it was a spa town was enticing enough, but learning about its history, particularly Mary Queen of Scots, made it all the more memorable.

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