Buxton Local History
BUXTON is an old Market and Spa Town. Set amongst the surrounding Derbyshire hills in the Peak District at a height of 1000ft above sea level making it the highest town in England. 
The Romans discovered water here and named the town “Aquae Arnemetiae” which translates as the “Water Goddess of the Spring”. Buxton soon became famous as a Spa town because of the healing waters which come up through thermal springs beneath the crescent. Over time, Buxton became popular with pilgrims wanting to take to the waters and one famous regular visitor was Mary Queen of Scots who suffered from Rheumatism.
The Cavendish Arcade was the original Thermal Baths where one could take to the waters which is a constant 82 ˚F.
THE BARREL VAULTED ROOF
OVER THE CAVENDISH CAFÉ & RESTAURANT
The roof was installed in 1985, as part of the conversion and refurbishment carried out to convert the former Hot Baths building into the shopping arcade you see today.
The large barrel vault roof was designed to be glazed internally with stained glass to “soak the area below in deep colour, with highlights of orange and gold, to achieve the fusion of both art and architecture”.
Designed by Brian Clarke, a well known English painter with a distinguished international reputation as a stained glass designer, at the time it was the largest single stained glass window in the British Isles.
INTERPRETATION OF DESIGN:
Imagine you are at the bottom of the River Wye, which runs beneath the building. The rows of green glass represent the river bank and blue glass the water as it fades to become sky floating on top of this water are sycamore leaves blown from the any trees that, in Victorian times, grew on the slopes opposite the crescent.
WHY NOT COME AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF WHILE HAVING AN ENJOYABLE LUNCH!
