Buxton's Town Hall: History

[@Ginger_Dalek]

Another great video. I can remember when you could walk through the arcades which were the indoor market hall bit and come out on the slopes. HPBC cannibalised them for more office space and to build the toilets, which were previously underground (as you look at the town hall from the pedestrian crossing with the New Inn behind you), just to the right of the crossing around what is now the entrance to the car park. I also worked for a guy from New Mills who had a contract with the council to do minor electrical installations/maintenance work, which would often be at the town hall. This sometimes required access to the cellar, which only seemed to run along one half of the building. When I asked the lads I worked with why there wasn't another cellar along the opposite side ,they claimed there was and they worked down there around the time they built the public toilets and created the office space I mentioned, and that side of the cellar was converted into an emergency command bunker for the council in the event of disasters or nuclear war, as well as claiming this bunker couldn't be accessed from within the town hall itself. I'm still not sure if they were pulling my leg, but it was certainly around the time when the government were doing that kind of thing elsewhere!

[@Leock]

Hmmm that’s intriguing and it’s such a shame they converted the bottom part especially considering the office space isn’t used anymore.

[@jackmckinnon3208]

I've said it next, if you go onto council you have to have the free lobotomy!!! Give up such an interesting building and go work out of leak ???? As you said, it's not even the same county, what a ridiculous idea. The lobotomy in full swing !!! Thx for the video 👍

[@Leock]

It does appear like it’s something along those lines, thank you for watching :)

[@doug1570]

A home for the museum perhaps. Last time I was there was a few years ago on an administrative matter at the registry office. I think the good citizens of Buxton should fight to keep it. Surely it can be turned into an useful asset. The shop next door, when I was a lot younger, used to be Mr Phillips bicycle shop. Used to go there to get wheels straightened and buy various bits and pieces. I used to roam all over the high peak on two wheels. We used to practice hill climbing on Holker Road. Thanks for the video. I look forward to them and good luck with the Gardens Lake. I swam across that one night, many moons ago, for a bet and I have pictures of my mother skating on it in the winter of 1947. Take care.

[@Leock]

I do hope we can hold on to it for the benefit of the public and not to be sold off. I bet you were freezing swimming across, it wasn’t very pleasant last year cleaning it up in the cold.

[@doug1570]

@@Leock It wasn't too bad, a summer evening, but I was surprised at how shallow it was.

[@DerbyshireBangers]

I visited inside afew years ago and think I remember seeing a bust located by one of the staircases. It did look like they where doing renovations at the time though.

[@Leock]

Well that’s good to know, I can only hope it’s still there now :)

[@tango6nf477]

I don't know why, and I may be wrong but I do get the distinct impression that you are not a fan of Buxton Town Council. 😏

[@Leock]

I wouldn’t know where you’ve got that from aha but I do seriously advocate for a town council instead of High Peak B.C. I feel like we could manage our town better than those who do not ever reside in it.