Buxton Museum & Art Gallery
9 – 11, Market Street, Buxton
1931
(now a Restaurant)
In the 1930s, Shaw Brothers’ ironmongers was advertised as ‘The Household Stores’ and was convenient for visitors to the market place, and to the livestock market. The building still has the same frontage as it did in those days.
Listen to the audio clip to hear about the revolution created by the availability of Calor gas.
Or read the transcript below:
Buxton has a rich musical heritage ranging from the classical concerts held at Pavilion Gardens and The Opera House, through the indelible legacies of its brass and bar room bands, to the seminal, early 70’s rock concerts of Buxton Festival. We even have a connection to The Smiths!
Now press the 
button to hear Brian Goodwin explain the humble beginnings of ‘The Buxton Bee Gee’s.’
Look down the slope towards the Crescent.
Click the PLAY button to hear former local librarian, Lyn Morris, describe the last days of the Buxton Library in the Crescent.
Or read the transcript below:
Built between 1887 and 1889 to directly rival the nearby Palace Hotel, the Empire Hotel was demolished in 1969. Rarely used as a hotel whilst it stood, The Empire was commandeered for military purposes during the First World War as the Canadian Discharge Depot, which had been previously located in Shoreham and then Bath. It had around 1,000 troops receiving medical attention at any one time.
Following the Second World War, the Empire Hotel never reopened and was occupied by squatters who were removed in 1949. The building fell into dereliction and was subsequently demolished in 1969. All that remains today of the Empire Hotel is the former gateway at the top of Carlisle Road.
Poole’s Cavern has been inhabited by humans for thousands of years. It was formed around two million years ago by the waters of the River Wye. Recent excavations uncovered molten blobs of bronze, hammered ingots, Roman pottery, animal bones, Roman coins, bronze jewellery, and a crucible for pouring molten metal. These finds suggest that a bronze-smith was working from the cave during the Roman occupation, supplying the soldiers on leave from the front lines of the Roman invasion with trinkets and jewellery. [Read more…] about Roman Buxton – Poole’s Cavern
The Picture House, 84-86 Spring Gardens, Buxton.
Although there is no date to accompany this image, the film showing is “For Heaven’s Sake” starring Harold Lloyd which came out in 1926 and we can therefore assume this photograph was taken around then. Harold Lloyd was a huge star in the 20s, making over 200 films and ranking alongside Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. This show probably would have been a crowd puller.
