Anne's Well, where are the ruins of the ancient Bath." This was taken down in 1709, by Sir Thomas Delves, of Cheshire, who out of gratitude for a remarkable cure he received from the use of the waters, erected a small stone alcove over the well. Capacious leaden cisterns and other articles, evidently Roman, were discovered when digging the foundation. The ancient Bath was discovered in 1781, on clearing and cutting away the ground to commence the building of the Crescent. Its form was an oblong square, approaching to the figure of a parallelogram, (dimensions 30ft. by 15.) The spring was found at the west end, and the outlet or flood-gate, to let off the water, at the east. The wall was constructed of limestone, with a coating of strong cement outside, and the floor a composite of lime and coarse sand, saturated (it is said) with blood. Near one end a singular cavity existed, resembling the shape of a boat. The water was conveyed into this by a leaden pipe.* Coins also of Constantine the Great have been found here, so that every doubt is dissipated of this being occupied by the Romans, who always fortified and garrisoned the lines of intersection of the great roads. It is generally supposed that the beautiful remains of Roman antiquity were destroyed and almost obliterated by the Picts, who detested the Romans, and over-run and subjugated this country, when that people withdrew their legions from Britain, in order to defend their eastern frontier, and when the enervated and now pusillanimous inhabitants were left to shift for themselves, to battle as they could with the more hardy and still unconquered Highlander. From this time, through all the stormy and unsettled times of the Heptarchy, till about the era of the conquest, Buxton seems to have been totally neglected; but from that period, it is presumed, it began to be noticed and resorted to, notwithstanding the perfect silence of the Monkish annalists respecting it during the middle ages. In the sixteenth century we find it had obtained high and deserved repu Pegge's Essay on Roman Roads. tation, which was much enhanced by a work written by Dr. Jones,* an eminent Physician of Derby, on the beneficial qualities of the waters. This appeared in 1572. The first commodious house for the reception of visitors was erected only a short time previous to this publication, by the Earl of Shrewsbury, on the site of the building now called the Old Hall; which occasioned the waters to be much more resorted to, and especially after the visit of Mary Queen of Scots, who was brought here for her health, under the care and custody of Lord Shrewsbury, accompanied by his Countess, Elizabeth. The last time the unfortunate Princess was allowed to visit this place, she applied to it the following lines of Cæsar upon Filtria, with a slight variation: "Buxtona quæ calidæ celebrare nomine lymphæ, Forte mihi, posthac non aduenda, vale." "Buxton, whose fame thy thermal waters tell, The Hall was again taken down, rebuilt, and much enlarged, by William third Earl of Devonshire, in 1670, and has since been greatly improved, and continues one of the principal Inns for the reception of company. It has this advantage, that the Baths are included within it. From that time, down to the present moment, Buxton has acquired an increasing celebrity, and consequently been resorted to by vast numbers, in all ranks of life during the season. The influx of company gave an impulse to building, and many structures were reared in the upper town, on the Hall Bank and neighbourhood; -some of them good Inns and Boarding Houses for the accommodation of the more wealthy, while ample means were also provided for the comfort and convenience of the poor invalid; and here Buxton, perhaps, stands unrivalled in its beneficent attentions to the poor, of which we shall speak presently; in the meantime we must direct our attention to the commencement and erection * Entitled "Buckstone's Bathes Benefyte." This occurs on a pane of glass, in one of the rooms she occupied in the Old Hall, and part of the ancient furniture used by her, is still shewn. of a structure of no ordinary magnitude, which forms a prominent feature in the history of Buxton, and exercised considerable influence on its destinies, and that is, THE CRESCENT. It appears that the late Duke of Devonshire, who watched over the rising prosperity of this spot with great interest, which induced him to buy up all the Inns and Boarding-houses he could to pull down, and rebuild them on a larger scale and in a better style, still thought more was wanting to accommodate the vast influx of visitors who came from all quarters for a few months in the season,-and as the inhabitants were few in number and not wealthy, depending solely on visitors, having no trade, or agriculture to help them forward, no gigantic speculation was to be looked for from them his Grace therefore determined to erect such a range of buildings as should afford ample and princely accommodation for all, whether they came simply for pleasure or health. ; The splendid pile of the Crescent, dictated by a spirit of munificence, and executed in a style of grandeur as if intended solely for the residence of a prince, was commenced about the year 1789, and completed in seven years afterwards, at a cost of £120,000.*The design was by John Carr, Esq., an eminent provincial architect, who superintended the whole building. It is in the Doric order of architecture,-perhaps the best adapted of all others for dwellings, from the simplicity and beauty of the style. It is composed * It is said that this sum was the produce of the Ecton copper mine, in Staffordshire, the property of the Duke of Devonshire, which netted some weeks the amount of £10,000. This mine is now quite exhausted, and all the lower workings filled with water. Its depth is about 1,500 feet. It is a subject of deep regret that the situation of the Crescent is so low, but it appears to have been the only one that could be commanded at that time, the Crescent being the result of a second plan, when the late Duke was defeated in his original intentions by the obstinacy of a person whose property stood in the way of its execution, and whose demands were deemed too extravagant. of three stories; the lower one is a rusticated arcade, forming a beautiful and convenient promenade for the visitor in wet weather or on scorching days, and amply provided with seats for their accommodation, this is seven feet wide within the pillars, (which support the two upper stories,) and eleven high. The floor of the arcade is raised at least three feet above the gravelled area in front, between which communications are formed by several flights of steps. An elegant balustrade skirts the front and ends of the building; the span of which, is nearly 317 feet. The divisions between the windows over the piers of the arcade are formed of fluted Doric pilasters, that support the architrave and cornice, the triglyphs of the former, and the rich plancere of the latter, are specimens of workmanship rarely excelled, and have a beautiful effect. Another balustrade raised above the cornices and extending all round, much enriches the building, in the centre of which are the Devonshire Arms, well carved. The inner circle of the Crescent is 200 feet; each wing measures 58 feet,—and the number of windows is 378. It is built of the grit stone obtained near the spot, and faced by a fine grained variety of the grit, termed provincially, free stone. The Crescent is divided into two hotels, one lodging-house and several shops. St. Anne's Hotel is in the west wing, and the Great Hotel occupies the east.-Here is the Assembly Room, which is a noble and well proportioned apartment, with a projecting cornice, highly enriched with various appropriate ornaments, over this, just under the coved ceiling, are a number of low oval windows, (but unseen,) which throw the light softly and beautifully over the top part of the room.* The stables at the back of the Crescent, but considerably elevated above it, next demand our notice. These are considered the finest in Europe, their form outside is that of an irregular polagon or octagon; the opposite sides of which are equal and similar, but inside the area is a circle 60 yards in diameter, round which is a covered gallery or ride, where the company * The length of this room is 75 feet-30 wide, and the same in height. can take exercise on horseback whenever the weather proves unfavourable for going abroad. In these stables, (which belong to the Crescent Hotels,) there is abundance of accommodation for horses, carriages, &c. The cost of their erection (£14,000) is said to be included in the £120,000. NEW CHURCH. The author can well recollect, when visiting Buxton many years ago, seeing this elegant structure in progress, which forms such a beautiful object viewed from any point, and is a great ornament to Buxton. The order is Tuscan, and the execution and workmanship admirable. The east front has large columns, supporting a massive pediment and on the west is raised an elegant tower,--the building has altogether a substantial appearance, and is one of great beauty.-The interior is well finished, and in a style which is extremely chaste and suitable. was opened in August, 1812. The patronage is in the hands of the Duke of Devonshire, by whom it was built. It is dedicated to St. John, it stands in the township of Fairfield, and belongs to the parish of Hope. The old church is now converted into a school room. The Square is a plain substantial building, having an arcade, which communicates with that of the Crescent, and forms a covered way of considerable extent (about 280 yards). The Square is let off as Lodging-houses and Shops. The Hall Bank, Scarsdale Place, and other parts of the town, contain good buildings, which our limits forbid us to notice; suffice it to say, Buxton has rapidly improved and been much beautified within the last quarter of a century. The fine eminence,* in front of the Crescent, is most tastefully laid out in surpentine walks, intersecting each other with convenient resting places at intervals, and affording pretty views of the country,From this point the Crescent is a fine object-and alto "St. Anne's Cliffe."-On the top of this originally existed a Barrow. |