Buxton Museum and Art Gallery facts for kids
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| Former name | Peak Hydropathic Hotel |
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| Established | 1928 |
| Location | Buxton, Derbyshire |
The Buxton Museum and Art Gallery is a special place that collects and shows items related to the history, geology, and archaeology of the Peak District and Derbyshire in England. It helps us learn about the past of this beautiful area.
The museum building is located on Terrace Road in Buxton. It was built in 1880 and was first a hotel called the Peak Hydropathic Hotel. During the First World War, it became a hospital for wounded Canadian soldiers, run by the Red Cross. In 1928, the Buxton Free Public Library & Museum moved into this building.
The museum building closed in June 2023 because of a problem called dry rot, which damaged its wooden parts. In May 2024, the local council decided to sell the building. Their plan was to move the museum's collections to a new place. In January 2025, a company called Solanki Holdings UK & International bought the old museum building. As of August 2025, the museum team is working from Buxton Library, offering some services there.
Contents
Discovering the Collections
The museum has many interesting collections that are usually on display. These collections help us understand the natural world and human history of the Peak District.
Ancient Life and Rocks
- Fossils from the Peak District: You can see fossils of ancient sea creatures from the Carboniferous period, collected between 1900 and 1950. These show what life was like millions of years ago.
- Ice Age Mammals: There are also bones and evidence of large mammals from the Pliocene period. These were found in caves and quarries across the Peak District.
- Geology Experts' Archives: The museum keeps the notes and papers of famous geologists. These include Sir William Boyd Dawkins and Dr John Wilfrid Jackson. They both studied the geology of Derbyshire and worked with the Manchester Museum.
- Minerals and Stones: The museum has a collection of local minerals. This includes the beautiful Blue John stone, carved limestone, and items found in caves. In 2006, the museum bought a rare collection of items made from Ashford Black Marble. These came with the tools used to make them, from a collector named John Michael Tomlinson.
Unique and Local History
- Randolph Douglas's "House of Wonders": This collection comes from Castleton. It includes a large number of old locks and keys. It also has some unusual items related to the famous escape artist Harry Houdini.
- Local Photos and History: The museum has many old photographs of Buxton. It also collects items that show the social history of the area. This includes more items connected to Houdini.
- Art Collection: There is a collection of fine art, mostly from the 19th and 20th centuries. These include paintings in watercolours and oils, and prints. Some famous artists whose work is included are Sir Frank Brangwyn, Marc Chagall, and Edgar Chahine.
- Derbyshire Police History: The museum also manages a collection related to the history of the Derbyshire Police.
Special Galleries and Projects
The museum has had special areas for visitors to explore:
- Boyd Dawkins Study: This gallery was a recreation of Sir William Boyd Dawkins's study. It showed his furniture, scientific tools, books, and fossil collection. He gave these items to the museum.
- Wonders of the Peak Gallery: This gallery was updated in September 2017. It took visitors on a journey through the history of the Peak District. It covered everything from the ancient Carboniferous period to the present day.
- Temporary Exhibitions: The museum also had two galleries for changing exhibitions. These showed art from visiting artists or special items from the museum's own collections.
The museum has also worked on an important project to return artefacts to their original owners. They sent items back to the Haida Gwaii and the Siksika Nation peoples, which are Native American and First Nation groups.
See also
