The Crescent.
G. Rowe. Lith
The lithograph of the Crescent at Buxton was published in
William Adam's "The Gem of the Peak" in 1840[1].
Adam also wrote the following:
"It appears that the late Duke of Devonshire, who watched
over the rising prosperity of this spot with great interest,
which induced him to buy up all the Inns and Boarding Houses
he could, to pull down, and rebuild them on a larger scale
and in a better style, still thought more was wanting to accommodate
the vast influx of visitors who came from all quarters for
a few months in the season, - and as the inhabitants were few
in number, and not wealthy, depending solely on visitors, and
having no trade or agriculture to help them forward, - no gigantic
speculation was to be looked for from them; his Grace therefore
determined to erect such a range of buildings as should afford
ample and princely accommodation for all, whether they came
simply for pleasure or health.
The splendid pile of the Crescent, dictated by a spirit of
munificence, and executed in a style of grandeur, as if intended
solely for the residence of a prince, was commenced about the
year 1789, and completed in seven years afterwards, at a cost
of £120,000.* The design was by John Carr, esq., an eminent
provincial architect, who superintended the whole building.
It is in the Doric order of architecture, - perhaps the best
adapted of all others for dwellings, from the simplicity and
beauty of the style. It is composed of three stories; the lower
one is a rusticated arcade, forming a beautiful and convenient
promenade for the visitor in wet weather, or on scorching days,
and amply provided with seats for their accommodation; this
is seven feet wide within the pillars, (which support the two
upper stories) and eleven high. The floor of the arcade is
raised at least three feet above the gravelled area in front,
between which communications are formed by several flights
of steps. An elegant balustrade skirts the front and ends of
the building; the span of which is nearly three hundred and
seventeen
feet. The divisions between the windows over the piers of the
arcade are formed of fluted Doric pilasters, that support the
architrave and cornice; the triglyphs of the former, and the
rich plancere of the latter, are specimens of workmanship rarely
excelled, and have a beautiful effect. Another balustrade raised
above the cornices, and extending all round, much enriches
the building, in the centre of which is the Devonshire arms,
well carved. The inner circle of the Crescent is two hundred
feet; each wing measures fifty-eight feet, - and the number
of windows is three hundred and seventy-eight. It is built
of the gritstone obtained near the spot, and faced by a fine
grained variety of the grit, termed provincially freestone.
The Crescent is divided into two hotels, one lodging-house,
and several shops. St. Anne's Hotel is in the west wing, and
the Great Hotel occupies the east. - Here is the Assembly Room,
which is a noble and well proportioned apartment, with a projecting
cornice, highly enriched with various appropriate ornaments;
over this, just under the coved ceiling, are a number of low
oval windows, (but unseen) which throw the light softly and
beautifully over the top part of the room*.* The stables at
the back of the Crescent, but considerably elevated above it,
next demand our notice. These are considered the finest in
Europe; their form outside is that of an irregular polygon
or octagon, the opposite sides of which are equal and similar,
but inside the area is a circle sixty yards in diameter, round
which is a covered gallery or ride, where the company can take
exercise on horseback whenever the weather proves unfavourable
for going abroad. In these stables (which belong to the Crescent
Hotels) there is abundance of accommodation for horses, carriages, &c.
The cost of their erection (£14,000) is said to be included
in the £120,000".
Footnotes:
* It is said that this sum was the produce of the Ecton copper
mine, in Staffordshire, the property of the Duke of Devonshire,
which netted some weeks the amount of £10,000. This
mine is now quite exhausted, and all the lower workings filled
with water. Its depth is about 1,500 feet. It is a subject
of deep regret that the situation of the Crescent is so low,
but it appears to have been the only one that could be commanded
at that time - the Crescent being the result of a second plan,
when the late Duke was defeated in his original intentions
by the obstinacy of a person whose property stood in the way
of its execution, and whose demands were deemed too extravagant.
** The length of this room is 75½ feet - 30 wide, and
the same in height.
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