Buxton,

Buxton, a town in Derbyshire, 37 miles NW. of Derby, and 25 SSE. of Manchester. It lies 1025 feet above sea-level, in a deep valley surrounded by hills and moors, which have been tastefully planted; and the only approach is a narrow ravine, by which the Wye flows into the Derwent. Chee Tor, 5 miles to the east, is a perpendicular limestone rock rising to a height of 300 feet from the Wye, while 3 miles to the southwest is Axe Edge (1810 feet). Buxton has long been famous for its calcareous springs, tepid (82° F.) and cold (discharging 120 gallons of water per minute), and its chalybeate springs. They were probably known to the Romans, and in 1572 were celebrated by one Dr John Jones as 'the ancient baths of Buckstones.' The town is visited annually, from June to October, by 8000 to 12,000 persons, the waters being taken for indigestion, gout, rheumatism, and nervous and cutaneous diseases. The Devonshire Hospital, containing 100 beds and receiving nearly 1000 patients per annum, is supported by subscription. The baths and public walks are numerous. Much of the splendour of Buxton is due to the dukes of Devonshire, one of whom in 1780, at the cost of £120,000, erected an immense three-storied pile of buildings called the Crescent, a curve of 200 feet, with wings each of 58 feet. It includes several hotels, a town-hall and free library (1891), assembly rooms, &c. Near Buxton is the Diamond Hill, famous for its crystals; and Poole's Hole, a gas-lit stalactite cavern 770 yards long. Mary, Queen of Scots, was at Buxton when in the custody of the Earl of Shrewsbury. Pop. (1871) 3717; (1881) 6021; (1891) 7424.