Listed Building record MDR317 - The Crescent, Buxton

The Crescent, Buxton, built c1780. 'Grade I listed building of 1780, by John Carr. Formal, three storeyed crescent, faced with ashlar. Open arcade to ground storey with order of fluted Doric pilasters through two storeys above, the entablature crowned by balustrade with central panel carved with Cavendish arms. Balustrade to 1st floor windows. Contains former Assembly Room with order of Corinthian columns and pilasters.' (1) 'From the late 1770s the fifth Duke of Devonshire set about establishing Buxton as a fashionable spa. In order to provide quality accommodation, it was decided that the first building to be constructed should be a large new hotel. The new building was in the form of a crescent containing a hotel at the west end, the Duke's town house in the centre and lodging houses at the east end, where there was also an Assembly Room. Shops stood at ground floor level. Building on The Crescent began in 1780 and was completed in 1788.' (2) 'The thermal spring waters at Buxton have been exploited since the Roman period, but most prominently during the late 18th century when the Crescent was built by John Carr for the Fifth Duke of Devonshire. It was built as a focal point of a health and leisure spa resort. It flourished throughout the 19th century, but declined during the 20th century, with portions of the buildings being used variously as a hotel, a hospital, and latterly, council offices and a library. The building has been empty for many years, and it is now intended to develop The Crescent into a hotel complex integrated with the adjacent natural spa [2009]. An archaeological evaluation was required prior to development due to the high potential to uncover important archaeological remains. A series of fifteen trial pits and two evaluation trenches were excavated during May and June 2009. It was found that to accommodate The Crescent and adjacent buildings a large level terrace was excavated to the natural shale. In the process of these 18th century ground works, the site of what is thought to have been a bath of possible Roman date, which was first uncovered in the 1690s, was disturbed and the debris utilised in the footings of the building. In addition, the location of a medieval well described by antiquarians and thought to be on an earlier Roman structure was identified. There is still potential for significant remains to survive in these locations. Water management was undertaken by soughs running under the building, and the persistent problem of flooding was tackled over the years by building brick channels beneath the floor or adding extra floor layers to force the water elsewhere. The level of flooding during the course of the project in the western end shows how ineffective these measures were.' (3) 'Built in Doric style, 1780-86, by the Fifth Duke of Devonshire, the architect being John Carr, of York. In World War II Officers and Men of the Services suffering from rheumatic disease were sent to Buxton. The Buxton Spa treatment is particularly indicated (1950) in the Rheumatic group of diseases.' (4) 'A section of substantial building made of lengths of sandstone walling was identified during excavations behind The Crescent could be an earlier extention of 'The Old Hall' of early 18th century date. In strata above the feature, drainage relating to early use of The Crescent was identified in the 'Ballroom' cellar.' (5) From the National Heritage List for England: 'SK 0573 NE 616-1/3/83 BUXTON THE CRESCENT The Crescent (Formerly Listed as: THE CRESCENT, St Anne's Hotel. Crescent Hotel.) 25/01/51 GV I Hotel, assembly room and five lodging houses, later council premises, now vacant. 1780-88, addition c.1803 with C19 and C20 alterations. By John Carr of York for the fifth Duke of Devonshire, additions possibly by J White. Ashlar, brick and dressed stone with ashlar dressings and Westmorland slate roofs. Cruciform stone stacks. STYLE: Neo-Classical. PLAN: crescent. EXTERIOR: three storeys to front, four storeys to rear, and basements. Front has symmetrical 29 window semi-circular range culminating in five window facades at each end. Rusticated, round arched arcade to ground floor has set back 27 round headed openings, with sets of steps in front of arches 2, 8, 11, 14, 16, 22 and 23 (from right to left). Central altered doorway and to left a three-light opening, a window, a door, two windows, a doorway altered to a window, two windows, two blocked doors and three windows. To the right two windows, a door, two windows, a door, five windows, a door and a window. All the windows are glazing bar sashes and doorways have mostly six-panel doors and fanlights. Above giant fluted Roman Doric pilasters with blind balustrade and full entablature, topped by balustrade with plain panels interspersed with shaped balusters, the central panel is carved with the Cavendish arms. First floor has 23 plain sashes and to the right six glazing-bar sashes, with guilloche pattern plat band between floors, and second floor has 29 glazing bar sashes. Five window facades at either end have similar articulation, set back ground floor facades have four round headed sashes each. Left return has similar articulation, five window range with blocked entrance at bay 1, first floor windows blind and second floor windows with glazing bar sashes. Right return has similar articulation, seven window range, with seven round headed sashes on the first floor and seven blank panels above. Rear facade of dressed stone, four storeys. Ground floor has tall round headed windows mostly blocked, and small square projections with stairs. First and second floors have boarded glazing bar sashes and third floor has smaller glazing bar sashes. INTERIOR: of former St Ann's Hotel altered but some original features survive. The vaulted cellars serviced by central passageway are divided into secure rooms providing wine cellars and stores. These retain many original features, such as four planked doors with strapped hinges within pegged architraves, that have been refronted with panelled doors. There are six-panel doors with low lock rails. Stone flag floors and a stone table survive. Window openings include two internal lunettes and an exterior window with chamfered mullion. To the right-hand, east, section many wooden doors retain top panels with bars for ventilation or vent holes. two fireplaces with stone jambs and lintels, one with narrow grate, the other larger. Ground floor has later ornate dining room addition to rear, with massive moulded beams upon double modillions in five rectangular panels. Folding shutters to windows. Later furnishings include Chinese style woven wall hangings. First floor has cast-iron balusters to stairs, with wreathed wooden handrail and columns to landing. Door glazed and engraved to upper panels, with fanlight and raised panels to spandrels, in ornate doorcase with ovolo moulding, leads into Smoking Room. Drawing room also has entrance door with engraved glass to upper panels and overlight, in moulded surround with entablature. The ceiling has shallow relief plasterwork of interlocking scrolls with central roundel. The frieze is similar in style to the cyclamen or "whiplash" pattern. Ornate fireplace with overmantel. One fireplace removed at time of survey, elaborate over mantel mirror remaining. Former Great Hotel, later Crescent Hotel, has semi-circular staircase rising from right-hand entrance to first floor Assembly Room with canted corners. Coved ceiling with ornate Adam style plasterwork, also plaques to wall. Marble fireplaces with overmantels, coved decorated alcoves, and ornate door cases, all with pediments either scrolled or triangular. The double panelled doors are round headed. Order of Corinthian columns and engaged pilasters. Adjoining the Assembly Room is the former card room (2x2) with panelled doors. The remaining houses and the hotel were designed as individual units, those to the hotel have linking curved central corridors on each floor. Each unit has three windows to the front and five windows to the rear with splayed internal walls following the curve of the Crescent. The units also have single flight return, cantilevered stone staircase with iron balustrade and wooden handrail. Most units contain some original decoration such as doors, doorcases and plasterwork, though many were modernized in the C19 and they retain interesting C19 fireplaces, plasterwork and panelling. Brick and stone vaulted cellars retain at least one later cooking range and slop stone sink. Balustrade to Great Stair by Thomas Smith of Chesterfield, and plasterwork to Assembly Room by James Henderson of York and carving by Thomas Waterworth of Doncaster. The Crescent cost £38,601.18s.4d. Listing NGR: SK0580673572.' (6)