In A History of Buxton in Objects, the museum team explores the town’s past through objects from its collection. Here are ten more, from a Roman milestone to local photographs and souvenirs.
These objects come from the museum’s collection; displays can change. Read part three.
11. Human skull from Fairfield Low (Skellybob Wood)
The local antiquarian Micah Salt excavated Fairfield Low, known locally as Skellybob Wood, in 1895 and 1896. Among the remains found was this skull. The Derbyshire Historic Environment Record identifies Fairfield Low as a Bronze Age barrow and also records later material found there. Micah Salt excavated several sites. He had his own museum and was among those who advocated for Buxton Museum. Items from his collections later entered its galleries. Salt died in 1915, as recorded on his listed tombstone.
12. Roman Milestone from Silverlands
The remains of this Roman milestone were found at Silverlands, near Buxton Football Club. The Buxton Local History Society reads the distance to Navio, at modern Brough, as twelve Roman miles, roughly eleven modern miles. The Roman road is known as Batham Gate. The fort at Navio was occupied in the late first century and rebuilt during the second century. A plaque marks the milestone’s findspot; the stone is in the museum collection.
13. Portrait of Martha Norton
Martha Norton was a well-known Well Woman of Buxton, shown here in a watercolour by John Nixon. Museum research records that she was elected to care for St Ann’s Well and assist visitors 15 times between 1775 and 1820. Well women received no salary and relied on tips.
14. Buxton Diamonds
Victorian visitors searched for Buxton Diamonds in fields south of Grin Low. They were also sold at the Poole’s Cavern gift shop. Alas, no-one was going to make their fortunes from these translucent quartz crystals.
15. Photograph of Sir Alec Guinness
The museum identifies this as a 1938 photograph of Alec Guinness by local photographer J. R. Board. Guinness later became well known for roles including George Smiley and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
16. Hamilton bottle used by Buxton Mineral Water Company
Buxton mineral water was bottled in torpedo-shaped glass bottles designed to retain its effervescence. Museum research found a London newspaper advertisement for bottled Buxton Water in 1855. The water at St Ann’s Well emerges at about 27°C.
17. Silver Henry V Long Cross penny found at Poole’s Cavern
Four coins were found together in Pooles cavern near Buxton. Were they the contents of the mysterious Poole’s pocket? The verdict is out on whether the cave-dwelling outlaw even existed but the discovery is fascinating nonetheless. This coin dates from the short reign of Henry V 1413-1422 which is a very long time ago, though the cave itself is far older.
18. Forage cap ornament
Souvenirs of towns were made by the Goss Company around 1900. This unusual hat with its own tiny hat box carries the coat of arms for Buxton Urban District Council. Buxton expanded during the Victorian era. A local board was established in 1859 and Buxton Urban District Council took over local government functions in 1894.
The museum’s account also recalls a story from R. Grundy Heape’s Buxton Under the Dukes of Devonshire: a stallholder supposedly told a marquess that toothpicks were plentiful in Buxton, but marquesses were scarce.
19. Sequoia (redwood tree) found at Hindlow Quarry
The museum identifies this fossilised wood as sequoia and dates it to about 20 million years ago.
20. Painting of Bath Road and West Road by Robert Brunt
The museum identifies this painting as a mid-19th-century view of Bath Road and West Road by Robert Brunt. Knock’s Rock is shown near the centre, where Rock Terrace stands today.
Visiting Buxton Museum and Art Gallery
Buxton Museum and Art Gallery is open in a temporary home next to Buxton Library on Kents Bank Road. Admission is free. Check the museum’s current visitor information for opening times and ask about the objects on display.
Advertisement
