peak district local history, customs, wildlife, transport

I moved to Buxton last year and was immediately intrigued by the different styles of houses in my street and by the ‘Roll of Honour’ plaque on a bottom house. Although the houses were all terraced, they were built in blocks and divided by alleys leading to their back yards.

Each block of houses had characteristics not shared by the others and it was obvious that each block had been designed by different architects at different times. Bennett Street had evolved; it had not all been built at the same time.

When I bought my house I had been told by the vendors that the street was famous in Buxton because ‘it was built by a doctor who gave it his name.’
Who was this Dr. Bennett and how had he acquired the land? I knew that the 7th Duke of Devonshire had initially owned most of the land in Buxton and by reading local history books which document this period I discovered that the Devonshires had been selling off their land, bit by bit, in order to meet the growing demand for housing as Buxton became a prosperous Victorian town famous for its spa treatments and recreational facilities.

The principal architect of Victorian Buxton was Robert Rippon Duke and his style can be seen all over the town (eg. the conversion of the 6th Duke of Devonshire’s stables into the Devonshire Hospital and the Pavilion Gardens concert hall - both of which included a large dome; an unusual design at the time).

However none of the houses in Bennett Street were designed by him as he preferred to design much larger buildings. There were several local architects. already working in the area who were very capable of designing the ‘working-class’ housing so characteristic of this part of Buxton.

Historical events, both locally and nationally, can add a touch of spice to your research. Perhaps somebody famous lived in your house many years ago or was well-known in your locality. It is a fact that a house sells more quickly if there is an interesting history attached to it. Unfortunately I have been unable to trace any famous people in Bennett Street but I have worked out where many of the men whose names appear on the war plaque lived.

War heroes were not necessarily acknowledged in a national context but they played an important role in a unique period of world history and as such should be recognised for their bravery. It is truly amazing that over 100 men from Bennett Street fought in the Great War and their names have now become an immortalised part of Buxton’s heritage.

Investigating the history of a house not only involves finding out about the fabric of a building, it also involves local history and genealogical research. By placing your house within an historical context you will have a better understanding of how history and its people moulded the character of your house and the street within which you live.

A hundred years ago people were living in what is now your home and they probably loved it as much as you do! Bringing bricks and mortar to life can be both absorbing and highly satisfying but once you start it can become extremely addictive. So beware!!

This article has been kindly contributed by Elizabeth Wildgoose.

Want to know more?
How old is your house? By Pamela Cunnington. Alphabooks 1980
Be your own House Detective by David Austin. BBC Books 1997
Your House's History, a beginner's guide. Derbyshire Record Office 1994
Tracing the History of your house by N.Barratt, Public Record Office. 2001
Buxton: a People's History by M.Langham, Carnegie Publishing. 2001