On Saturday morning we walked into Buxton. It was over-cast and very cold, I thought. By the afternoon it had warmed about from 5C to about 12C. There is nothing that I can write about Buxton which you won't find for yourselves in free downloadable pdf stuff from the tourist information centre. So obviously we went to the pavilion gardens and dined in the restaurant there.
Via the 'opera house' we walked passed the University of Derby (Buxton campus) to see Cavendish Arcade. Very fine parades of shops with the tiling you can see below, by Minton.
The pharmacy was delightful. We purchased our laudanum and a fine boudoir mirror.
Inside the arcade the splendid fittings continued to please.
The very expensive shops however did not receive our patronage.
Then on to the crescent, which we are reliably informed, forms a circle with 'the slopes' above it re-modelled by Paxton. Indeed the dukes of Devonshire and obviously their people have greatly benefited the town with their patronage, though no doubt at a handsome profit to their family from increased rents and trade.
With some shops having that retro fifties look, Chris is happy not to purchase.
The art gallery and museum, or rather its curator did not really take the exhibits too seriously. There was a most interesting exhibition of items it is now politically incorrect to show. The butterfly collection below is an example. I found it genuinely jaw-droppingly awful that such things as that version of what natural history involves, and various racist items should hold such a lurid interest. From the commentary to the exhibition it was rather obvious that so did the curator. The fine art on show was dreadful.
However the town redeems itself with St. Mary's below. A little gem of a arts and crafts movement church.
Via the 'opera house' we walked passed the University of Derby (Buxton campus) to see Cavendish Arcade. Very fine parades of shops with the tiling you can see below, by Minton.
The pharmacy was delightful. We purchased our laudanum and a fine boudoir mirror. 
Inside the arcade the splendid fittings continued to please.
The very expensive shops however did not receive our patronage.
Then on to the crescent, which we are reliably informed, forms a circle with 'the slopes' above it re-modelled by Paxton. Indeed the dukes of Devonshire and obviously their people have greatly benefited the town with their patronage, though no doubt at a handsome profit to their family from increased rents and trade.
With some shops having that retro fifties look, Chris is happy not to purchase.
The art gallery and museum, or rather its curator did not really take the exhibits too seriously. There was a most interesting exhibition of items it is now politically incorrect to show. The butterfly collection below is an example. I found it genuinely jaw-droppingly awful that such things as that version of what natural history involves, and various racist items should hold such a lurid interest. From the commentary to the exhibition it was rather obvious that so did the curator. The fine art on show was dreadful.
However the town redeems itself with St. Mary's below. A little gem of a arts and crafts movement church.
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