Georgian Derbyshire Festival Events
Events in Buxton

Saturday 16^th September

Local Landscapes in the Georgian Period by Alan Roberts

Time: 7pm – 8pm
Venue: The Pump Room, The Crescent, Buxton, SK17 6BH
Cost: Standard £15, Concessions £12, Friends £10
Booking: To book: Local landscapes in the Georgian Period talk by Alan Roberts
Accessibility: Wheelchair friendly and accessible toilet

During the 18th century, the development of the turnpike road system across England greatly improved travelling conditions. Areas such as the Peak District, Lake District and North Wales saw visits by artists and authors in search of the picturesque and romantic elements of those scenic areas. Their paintings, prints and guide books, in turn, led to increasing numbers of visitors in search of those scenic features.

The talk will cover a range of contributions from that period illustrating and describing the landscape of the area around Buxton at that time and walks to enjoy them. Descriptions of Castleton and the valleys of the rivers Wye, Dove and Manifold will be included. In addition, it will describe several changes to the landscape through tree planting as major local landowners sought to enhance the beauty of some of the local areas.

The talk will finish with a poem written just after the turnpike road was built along Ashwood Dale in 1810, past a local beauty spot – Lover’s Leap. It rages against the damage done to Lover’s Leap by the road building and the loss of tranquillity due to the passing traffic – a theme still familiar to us today!

Sunday 17^th September

‘Through The Window’, Create a 3D View of Georgian Buxton.

Time: 10.30am-12.30pm
Venue: The Assembly Room, The Crescent, Buxton, SK17 6BH
Cost: FREE
Booking: Drop-in
Accessibility: Wheelchair friendly and accessible toilet

Recreate a scene of bygone Buxton with this 3D paper collage activity, using layers and scenes which expand to give the illusion of depth when you peer through. Suitable for age 7 plus.

There’s More to Walls – Countryside by Trevor Wragg

Time: 7pm-8pm
Venue: The Assembly Room, The Crescent, Buxton, SK17 6BH
Cost: Standard £15, Concessions £12, Friends £10
Booking: To book: Talk – There’s more to Walls – Countryside Talk by Trevor Wragg
Accessibility: Wheelchair friendly and accessible toilet

Trevor Wragg has been a Stone Waller since leaving school in 1964. He has worked on many farms, estates and gardens and is a Master Craftsman certificate holder, qualified training instructor and assessor. Trevor was the main co-ordinator and designer of the Royal Cipher at Chatsworth House for the Queens Jubilee celebrations and was the second co-ordinator of the Derbyshire Millenium Wall which involved 150 wallers. Having demonstrated his skills at large scale events and featuring on TV and radio, Trevors talk as part of the landscapes weekend, at the Georgian Derbsyshire Festival will be based on his leaflet ‘There’s more to walls’ promoting the beauty, importance and heritage of Peak District dry stone walls. Join us to hear all about this craft and it’s contribution to Derbyshire’s stunning landscapes.

Friday 22^nd September

Georgian Pitter Patter (People themed) our usual fun with extra dressing up.

Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm
Venue: The Crescent Experience, The Crescent, Buxton, SK17 6BH
Cost: FREE
Booking: Drop-in
Accessibility: Wheelchair friendly and accessible toilet

Dress as a Duke, create like Carr or dance as a Duchess in our popular Georgian themed Pitter Patter session.

Saturday 23rd September

‘From Victorian Ladies to First World War Patients: Buxton Embraces Hydrotherapy by Melanie King.

Time: 2.30pm – 4pm
Venue: The Pump Room, The Crescent, Buxton, SK17 6BH
Cost: Standard £15, Concessions £12, Friends £10
Booking: To book: Talk & Walking Tour – From Victorian Ladies to First World War Patients: Buxton Embraces Hydrotherapy by Melanie King
Accessibility: Wheelchair friendly and accessible toilet

Hydrotherapy arrived in Britain in the 1840s to a fanfare of enthusiasm. It involved the application of water at varying temperatures, including steam to cure all sorts of diseases from rheumatism and constipation to (after WWI) shell-shock. Intrepid patients were dunked, drenched, douched, floated, wrapped in wet sheets, or leisurely submerged in peat baths. Buxton had an advantage with its naturally hot, mineral waters. But Hydros not only offered healing, they provided entertainment, scripture, dietary advice and long-term residency for anyone willing to pay.  Join Melanie King who will set the scene with a 30-minute illustrated talk in the beautiful Grade II listed Pump Room.

The talk will be followed by a guided tour to locate some of Buxton’s hidden or, sadly, demolished Hydros where she will share the stories of some of the characters who were employed, visited or lived as permanent residents. One man in particular, Herbert Reginald Pomeroy (HRP), expanded his grandfather’s Buxton Hydro to become one of the biggest Hydros in Britain. We will begin the tour at the site.

Actors, Musicians and Performers in Georgian Derbyshire by Dr Peter Collinge 

Time: 7pm – 8pm
Venue: The Pump Room, The Crescent, Buxton, SK17 6BH
Cost: Standard £15, Concessions £12, Friends £10
Booking: To book: Pump Room Presents: Dr Peter Collinge – ‘Actors, Musicians and Performers in Georgian Derbyshire’
Accessibility: Wheelchair friendly and accessible toilet

After his wonderful presentation in April for the John Carr celebration month, Historian Dr Peter Collinge revisits the Pump Room during the  Georgian Drbyshire Festival. Peter will be regaling us with stories about the actors, musicians and performers who frequented Georgian Derbyshire. If you have been to one of Dr Collinge’s talks before, you will know that this is not one to miss. Join us for pre-drinks from 6.30pm.

Sunday 24^th September

Lady Arbella Stuart – the Queen that never was by David Templeman

Time: 7pm – 8pm
Venue: The Pump Room | The Crescent | Buxton | SK17 6BH
Cost: Standard £15, Concessions £12, Friends £10
Booking: To book: Historical Talk – Lady Arbella Stuart – the Queen that never was by David Templeman (with a guest appearance from MQoS)
Accessibility: Wheelchair friendly and accessible toilet

An in-depth talk on the grandaughter of Bess of Hardwick who was born to be a Queen. Niece of Mary, Queen of Scots, she was brought up with the sole intention of being crowned Queen after Elizabeth. So join David Templeman, local historian specialist in Elizabethan history, in this talk seeking out the story of Arbella from her confined childhood to her being involved in one of history’s most exciting romantic escape stories. It is a compelling tale of exploitation, politics and religion. Arbella was a simple, kind and affectionate woman who eventually just wanted to marry and be forgotten about. Not to be and although Arbella has disappeared into the mists of time, her story deserves to be retold. If circumstances had been different, she would have been crowned Queen after Elizabeth I.