Buxton Civic Association Newsletter Issue 35 Autumn 2016 PLAYING OUR PART IN THE TOWN The Buckingham Debate By Alyson Phillips
The Buckingham Hotel stands on the corner of Burlington Road. From here you can glance through the autumn trees at the car park and swimming pool, built on the site of Robert Rippon Duke’s Victorian skating rink. A choice, to demolish, was made that reflected the needs of the time. Glimpse also the Octagon waiting for a specialist main contractor to carry out a three million pound programme of remedial work. Adjacent is the Bedford Home, empty for years, in suspended animation, and other buildings in the Park Conservation Area that are preserved as part of Buxton’s precious heritage. How Do We Shape the Future? The High Peak Borough Council have to consider how best to resolve the problem of our hotels meeting the accommodation needs of our visitors. The huge success of the brand new Premier Inn, which opened this spring, would indicate that, for many, this is what the majority of our visitors want and expect. We must bear this in mind as we debate the future of this, and other Victorian and Edwardian hotels, built at a time when Buxton was a ‘must’ on the railway powered tourist trail. The Argument For Demolition Buxton needs modern hotel facilities and tasteful, quality hotels will help put Buxton back on the map. In a gateway location such as this, a new hotel could be an iconic landmark that would emphasize the junction and add character to the local area. The proposal should be commended for its ‘environmentally friendly’ features. New buildings can revitalize and add interesting architecture to the town and utilize advanced environmental techniques. It is clear from the updated structural report that little or no maintenance has been carried out. The structural problems, resulting from the removal of a party wall between two halves of the original semi-detached building have not been resolved. This building is not seen by the Council for British Archaeology as a ‘heritage asset’ due to its poor structural condition. Langham and Wells in their book about Robert Rippon Duke, The Architect of Victorian Buxton, state “…in 1876 there was criticism in the local press about…the ‘blot on the landscape’ made by two houses called Rockavon and Buckingham.” (now the Buckingham Hotel). They were two separate residences never designed as a hotel. The building, if repaired, may not provide the facilities that modern guests require or provide the best return for an investor. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 1
PLAYING OUR PART IN THE TOWN Continued from Page 1 The Argument Against Demolition The BCA is opposed to this development as submitted. The excavation of the site could pose short and / or long term risks to the Buxton spring supply according to Nestle Waters. High Peak Borough Council is aware that construction works associated with creating an excavation have the potential to cause contamination of the aquifer, with ‘unknown implications for the thermal water system’. Historic England advises that, ‘...the loss of the existing hotel and replacement building would cause harm to the significance, character and appearance of the conservation area… It is a historic example of the prolific expansion of a 19th Century townscape and architecturally the building displays typical Victorian features and proportion with generous bay windows. It was built of local sandstone with slate roof and dressed stone detailing - characteristic of Buxton itself.’ Historic England feels that the loss of the building would harm the townscape setting. ‘The proposed new building will not preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the historic park and garden.’ Historic England feel the new design is an ‘unconvincing pastiche’. The Victorian Society object because they feel demolition would, ‘... strike at the heart of what defines the area and makes it special’. The loss of trees is of great concern. ‘Mature trees contribute to the distinctive nature of the landscape in the Conservation Area and replacement planting is inappropriate and would not mitigate the loss on arboricultural grounds,’ states Monica Gillespie, tree officer for HPBC. The BCA objects to the overall design which appears to be a mixture of styles, and details are too vague and unspecified. Would we therefore be setting a dangerous precedent if we allowed the demolition of the Buckingham? Many of our dear old buildings in Buxton have bowing walls but does that make them structurally unsound. Are we sure that repairs to this building are unfeasible? People who own property have a duty to maintain a building, not leave it to rot until it is so dangerous that an application is made to demolish it. The building could be repaired and take its place as an integral part of the heritage landscape instead of a bland hotel that is not sympathetic in size, scale or proportion to the site. It is unclear why the existing building cannot be adapted and repaired to meet current standards for continued use. The current plans are for a building that is larger and would need more reclaimed stone or may use cheaper materials. The plans show a building that would disrupt the uniformity of the Victorian townscape which is inappropriate in such a commanding position. The underground car park would exit onto St John’s Road at a blind spot. The Park Conservation Area was put in place to protect Buxton’s Victorian Heritage. The retention of the tree shield, boundary wall and features are essential. There are good examples of sympathetic ‘change of use’, for example the flats built on the old Normanton School site which upgraded and replaced decrepit buildings. Have Your Say It is important to see this debate as a microcosm of the planning decisions that face any settlement from the smallest hamlet to the largest city. Premier Inn chose to build in Buxton because they received so many requests for hotel accommodation in Buxton. Our heritage could not be more important to the BCA and it is vital for us all to keep up to date with the planning decisions that are being made. The plans and comments are available for everyone to see and discuss at : HPK/2016/0276 BURLINGTON HOTEL
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FAMOUS VISITORS TO POOLE’S CAVERN
Did the Scottish Queen take a trip down Poole’s Cavern? By Simon Fussell (first published on 6th September 2016 on www.curlewsinthegoyt.com) The recent visit to Poole’s Cavern by a famous comedian got me thinking about the great, the good and perhaps the not so good who, having a couple of hours to spare on a wet windy Buxton summer afternoon, have ventured into Poole’s Cavern. Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first of all. The obvious one? Who else but Mary Queen of Scots of course.
There are few castles or stately homes in England that don’t have a story or legend concerning Mary visiting or staying with them. She definitely came to Buxton. She stayed in the Old Hall, now a lovely hotel, though when she visited it was a four storey tower, a place of imprisonment, of confinement. Her last visit was in 1584, when it was alleged that she carved an inscription on a window of the tower. The window is still in place, in room 26 and reads; “Buxton, whose warm waters have made thy name famous, perchance I shall visit thee no more – Farewell.” By 1587 she had been executed. The burning question of course is; did she visit Poole’s Cavern? There is no evidence that Mary hitched up her skirts, and grasping a guttering, spluttering candle, slipped and slid her way through the mud and the damp tunnels to glimpse the wondrous sights, other than a reference to the “Queen of Scots “pillar that Defoe refers to in one of his letters on the Peak District. “As for the Queen of Scots pillar, as ’tis called, because her late unfortunate majesty, Mary, Queen of Scots, was pleased to have it be called so, it is a piece of stone like a kind of spar, which is found about the lead; and ’tis not improbable in a country where there is so much of the oar, it may be of the same kind, and, standing upright, obtained the name of a pillar; of which almost everybody that comes there, carries away a piece, in veneration of the memory of the unhappy princess that gave it her name. Nor is there anything strange or unusual in the stone, much less in the figure of it, which is otherwise very mean, and in that country very common.” Did she agree to have it named after her, having seen it at first hand? Perhaps she rested her hand on the cool damp rock and in the flickering candle light, surrounded by the gloom and the darkness, did she glimpse something of her own mortality? And if she had ventured inside, how far would she have got? And who would her gaolers allow as her guide? Perhaps some Catholic sympathiser living a quiet and blameless life in Buxton? A more relevant question would be; how far could she have got? For there would be no level path, with convenient hand rails, and well-lit passages. No electric lighting, just the flickering yellowy candle light, held by her guides. So we are left with rumour, speculation and a decent tale to tell the visitors to the cave today. One thing is certain, it would have been a much harder, tougher trip then than now. There would have been an element of danger and of fear of the dark, of the demons that may lurk beyond the shadows, out of sight of the flickering yellow light. The echoing footsteps and the steady drip of water from the roof, combined with the roar of the underground river, all would have made for a tense and fearful atmosphere. But while we are uncertain as to whether Mary made the trip, we do know that Poole’s Cavern or Poole’s Hole as it was better known then, was visited by many famous and well known people. 3
PEOPLE From Brussels to Buxton Interview conducted by Simon Fussell
Dr Helen Haywood has joined the board of Buxton Civic Association, and has joined the Membership and Communities committee.
All about our new director – Dr Helen Haywood How long have you lived in Buxton and what was the reason for deciding to live here? I was living and working in Brussels until I moved to Buxton just 3 years ago. My husband and I came to Buxton several times before we moved here and we just fell in love with the place. How did you find out about Buxton Civic Association and what made you want to join? It was obvious from the outset how important the Civic Association is to the town and I wanted to support the Association in its aims and objectives....and Mike Monaghan is very persuasive! What have been the most important events in your career thus far? I have had a very varied career, but if I had to pick out one element, it would be working internationally and experiencing different cultures, countries and people. Why did you want to be a director of BCA and what particular skills do you bring to the board? I think Buxton has a unique heritage which needs protecting. The BCA struck me as being the single most influential body doing just this. My broad professional experience in international affairs lends itself to helping the BCA in presenting and arguing its position at all levels be it local and national government or with corporate entities. BCA celebrates its 50th year next year. What do you think its most important achievement has been so far? The management of the 200 acres of woodland is an amazing achievement, and sensitively commercialising Poole’s Cavern to enable this to happen. What role do you think BCA should play in the future cultural and civic development of Buxton? With ever increasing pressure to build more housing, our green areas and historic buildings are more vulnerable to exploitation than ever. I believe the BCA has an important role to safeguard our town from unscrupulous and ill considered development. Buxton has many beautiful buildings in the town. Which is your favourite and why? Without doubt it has to be the Opera House, which is a fine example of Edwardian theatre architecture. What is your favourite public space in Buxton? Why is it important to you? The Pavilion gardens are a hidden gem and every time I take a stroll though the 23 acres I discover a new little corner of peace and tranquillity. How would you describe Buxton? A very special place, which I am lucky enough to now call home. It’s always alive with people and things going on which gives a vibrancy that many towns just don’t have. Buxton plays host to a wide range of visitors every year. How do you think they see Buxton? I am sure many visitors fall in love with Buxton, just as I did. It never ceases to amaze me just how enthusiastically visitors speak about our town.
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If you go down to the VISITORS’ woods... FEEDBACK What the Outside World Thinks of Us! Compiled by Ali Quas-Cohen As we come to the end of the main tourist season, we thought it might be nice to show you a selection of the comments and reviews of Poole’s Cavern and Country Park from this year on Facebook, Twitter and Trip Advisor. About the Country Park: “Not a bad way to spend Sunday morning” “Enjoyed an afternoon exploring” “Perfect dog walking territory!” “I am fortunate to live close by to this lovely woodland area maintained so well by Buxton Civic Association” About the Visitor’s Centre: “Popping up for a much needed cuppa and sausage bap! Highly recommended! Treats for the dog too. #dogfriendly” “Nice cake in the coffee shop!!” “Lovely place with lovely staff.” “The coffee shop is well run, I ordered a cappuccino and they warmed the cup before making it” “The staff are friendly and polite. Entertainment from the cafe is provided through the windows by the resident squirrels who raid the birds' nut feeders!” About the Cavern: “A great time down a long dark tunnel...” “Amazing time at Poole's Cavern.” “Brilliant tour with the guide. Impressed by staff awareness of autism” “Loved it. The guide was brilliant and obviously passionate about his job. Made it well worth the visit; would recommend it to anyone going to Buxton.” “After a week in the Peaks my 10 year old son said that this was his favourite part of the whole trip.”
SANTA SPECIAL—VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for our SANTA WEEKENDS According to our visitors’ feedback we officially have the ‘best Santa in town’. We are very proud of this tradition and it has become an important and very successful part of our annual calendar. This year we need helpers to escort visitors to and from the cavern, to patrol the cave and chat to visitors. These are not guided tours. Any amount of time would be a great help— please try to spare half a day on any of the weekends to make this the best of Christmas treats.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL SCROOGE AT THE CAVERN Local actor Martin Beard is putting on a couple of sketches from a Christmas Carol in Dickensian style in the Café. Provisional dates are; 20th,21st,and 22nd December 2016. starting at 7.30pm and lasting an hour or so..
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A MESSAGE FROM MIKE
Autumn Update from Our Chair I am delighted to report that we have again had a very successful summer season at Poole’s Cavern. Visitor numbers were in line with recent record years, visitor satisfaction as recorded on social media and by informal contact has never been better and staff report things have never gone more smoothly. We owe great thanks to efforts by all our staff for this outstanding achievement. But not all our activities are confined to the visitor centre. The Association has been busy in many activities in the town some of which are reported elsewhere in this Newsletter or on the web site.
It is also worth mentioning that the wild flower glades in Grinlow, whilst late in coming into flower, have never been better. Looking ahead we have school bookings every day from now until the end of November and plans are afoot for an extended season of visits to Santa. In addition the autumn programme of talks kicks off on October 20th. See elsewhere in the Newsletter for details. A big thank you to the Scouts for repairing the steps at Grinlow. Congratulations to Buxton Group on their 25th Anniversary and to Friends of Buxton Station for winning a National award in recognition of the work they have been doing. So there is a lot going on; I hope you are able to join us for some of the activities or even volunteer for one of our groups. These groups are a great way to meet other members. The woodland volunteer groups meet monthly on a Monday. Please phone Alan Walker, Manager (01298 26978) at Poole’s Cavern to check dates and times. Finally I would like to thank all members for their support and encouragement. If you have any suggestions or even criticisms please get in touch with me. communications@buxtoncivicassociation.org.uk.
IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS
Sixteen members enjoyed a summer evening walk in August as our club night. We walked the ‘Green Route’ from the school room. It was a chance to talk about the new sculpture which is at the point the green route starts. Nearby is also a 150 year old elm tree, one of the few survivors of Dutch Elm Disease. We imagined the scene before 1820 when the hillside was covered with smoking lime kilns and thought about the families that lived on the ‘seven hills’ that are the remains of the lime workings. The waste deposited on the lime tips provides the perfect growing environment for the wide range of plant species that give us our SSSI status. Back at the schoolroom we enjoyed tea, coffee, homemade chocolate cake and good company.
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EVENTS
Members’ Talks Programme 16th November
20th October
Our October Members’ Event is slightly different. Steve Philips of Discover Buxton will perform a 45 minute play. In addition to the play there will also be an update on the expanding work of Discover Buxton. Steve describes the evening; "We ask people to imagine that they are in a restaurant in the Palace hotel on 10 October 1881, the eve of the opening of the Devonshire Dome. The audience 'listen in' to a conversation in the restaurant between Robert Rippon Duke and Edward Milner as the two old friends are reunited and have a catch up conversation."
Our November members’ event is a talk from Gordon MacLellan and Joe Perry from Buxton Museum. What’s happening at the museum? An update on the progress of the Collections in the Landscape project and a discussion about the Star Objects: what treasures will tell the story of the Peaks? With Joe Perry, assistant collections officer, and Gordon MacLellan, events coordinator" Join us to listen to the discussion and find out more about the landscape.
Caption Competition
The Places and Spaces Committee decided to hold their September Committee meeting alfresco (see photo opposite.). Despite the odd spot of rain and the threat of midges, the meeting was deemed a success. To record the event we took a photo of the committee as they were about to start their deliberations. Email us your suggested caption to: communications@buxtoncivicassociation.org.uk The best one will be published on our website at the end of October.
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GET COOKING
COMMUNICATIONS
Entrees
Footpath Finder Reminder
ENTREES SECTION
Have you ever been out walking locally and noticed that a footpath needs repairing? Perhaps you have had to climb over a broken stile, or seen a sign that has been vandalised?
MOCK HARE By Olive Middleton
There is a wonderful website for reporting these problems. It is very easy to use and you can zoom in to show exactly where the problem is on the map provided.
Cut two lbs of lean beef into pieces to resemble joints of hare, brown in hot butter, cover with stock, add one carrot, one onion, 6 cloves, and two tablespoons of beer (if liked). Simmer slowly for 3 hours, strain the gravy, thicken it and pour over the meat. Serve with garnish of forcemeat balls and redcurrant jelly. Mrs Bryden, Heathfield, off Park Road, Buxton. This contributor was the wife of W R Bryden, the architect, who built it for their own occupation. Bryden also designed ‘Lakenham’ and ‘Inglethorpe’ at the end of Burlington Road, about 1905. The dish is a favourite of the Danish, where it is known as Forloren Hare. Next time—Roman Pudding This is the third in our series of extracts from the recently discovery of a pre-First World War booklet contains not only fascinating advertisements from shops and businesses in the town, but also for many dishes of the time sent in by residents. Comprising savoury and sweet dishes as well as household remedies, it was discovered by the proprietors of the Lee Wood Hotel and made available to BCA. The booklet was printed in 1912 for the benefit of The Home of Rest Furnishing Fund, which was in West Street. Moreover, it contains the name of each contributor and the house name or road where they lived. Our thanks to Olive Middleton for selecting and editing the recipe and for the Leewood Hotel for permission to print it.
The address is; www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/countryside/access/rights of way/default.asp
Buxton Civic Association General Manager: Alan Walker at Poole’s Cavern 01298 26978 Board Members: Chair: Dr Mike Monaghan Secretary: Martin Wragg Treasurer: Brian Shawcross Planning: Jonathan Davey, Nigel Manning , Alan Roberts Woodlands: Peter Phillipson Community and Membership: Mike Wilde Newsletter: Alyson Phillips, Simon Fussell Archives: Brian Lawrence Environment: Andy Banks Heritage: Adam Bench Civic Voice Liaison: Nigel Manning
Editor
Alyson Phillips
communications@buxtoncivicassociation.org.uk
BCA1967
Contact
BCA, Poole’s Cavern, Green Lane, Buxton, SK17 9DH
Registered charity number in England and Wales 258163 8