Buxton Crescent Hotel and Spa Baths, UK

History of the Buxton Crescent Hotel and Spa Baths

The Grade I listed Buxton Crescent is a large complex incorporating spa baths with mineral water provided from a natural spring. The Crescent faces the site of St Ann’s Well, where warm spring water has flowed for thousands of years. The Georgian hotel was built in 1870 to turn the town of Buxton into a fashionable destination for UK travellers at the time.

Watercolour painting of Buxton Crescent attributed to W. Cowen, c. 1850 and a recent photo showing the buildings detail

High repair costs forced the closure of the hotel and bathing facilities in the 1990s. Various projects to renovate the building have started and failed for one reason or another. Work commenced once again in 2015 and hopefully the beautiful building can be restored to its former glory.

The baths will be retained as part of the renovation, and the ornate assembly room will be fully restored.

The assembly room

Buxton Crescent – The grand assembly room

Buxton Crescent – Columns and doors in the assembly room

Buxton Crescent – Assembly room

Buxton Crescent – Tall windows

Buxton Crescent – Columns

Buxton Crescent – Looking up the columns to the ornate ceiling

Other areas of the Crescent

Buxton Crescent – Arched windows and ornate décor

Buxton Crescent – One of the few remaining nice rooms

Buxton Crescent – Old paintings

Buxton Crescent – Covered staircase

Buxton Crescent – Room with lots of arches

Mineral Spa Baths

Buxton Crescent – Entrance to the spa baths

Buxton Crescent – Spa reception

Buxton Crescent – Square glass dome

Buxton Crescent – Mineral bathing pool

Buxton Crescent – Spa bath

Buxton Crescent – In the pool

Buxton Crescent – Original tiling in corridor to changing areas

Buxton Crescent – Corridor

Buxton Crescent – Changing area

Buxton Crescent – Original structure of the changing rooms

Buxton Crescent – One of the private plunge pool

Buxton Crescent – Strange chair

Buxton Crescent – I have no idea what this strange contraption was used for