Town Hall

The Town Hall, built between 1887 and 1888 and altered in the 20th century, was designed by W Pollard of Manchester. It is a building of group value, reflecting its contribution to the character of Buxton. The construction uses coursed millstone grit with ashlar dressings, topped with steeply pitched Welsh slate roofs that incorporate ornamental cast-iron railings. The plan is a "T" shape.

The north front is symmetrical with five windows and features rusticated pilasters, a moulded entablature, and paired Tuscan pilasters above. A projecting central frontispiece has a moulded round arched entrance with double panel doors, a curved keystone, and ornate carved spandrels. Flanking walls to the steps are topped with four ornate iron lamps. The windows are a mix of two-light sashes, tripartite sashes, and Venetian windows, all within moulded ashlar surrounds. A central Venetian window is flanked by Corinthian columns supporting a pediment and a panelled section with a parapet, urns, and a tall pyramidal roof. The south front mirrors the north, also symmetrical with five windows, and features banded pilasters, a moulded entablature, and a coped parapet. The central entrance has double panel doors and sidelights, and a carved round arched surround. The tower rises above the main structure, with a raised attic containing three circular windows. A clock, given by the Duke of Devonshire’s tenants in 1889 in memory of the assassination of Lord Frederick Cavendish in Dublin in 1882, sits under a segmental pediment on each face, topped with an octagonal cupola supported by eight Corinthian columns, a bell canted dome, and a finial. The side facades have end pavilions that reflect the main fronts, with a single-story ground floor featuring paired windows, leading to a set-back first floor with round-headed windows and buttresses separating what was previously a ballroom.

Internally, the building has been altered and sub-divided in the 20th century; the first-floor ballroom is now offices. Originally, the building contained three staircases leading to barrel-vaulted cellars with market stalls, though now only two opposing staircases remain, constructed from cast iron with wooden rails. Surviving features include some wood panelling, panelled doors, and mosaic flooring, along with some contemporary furnishings.