Buxton Skyline (1901)

This panoramic shot of the Buxton skyline captures the famous Georgian crescent designed by John Carr of York for William Cavendish, the Duke of Devonshire, and the 18th century stable block, with its large slate domed roof, also built for the Duke.

The film itself would be shown in the Pavilion theatre, part of the Opera House built by Frank Matcham under the patronage of Mr Tweedale, a travelling film exhibitor who presented a show in early February 1901. Buxton skyline appears as familiar today as it would be to the Edwardian audience and shows the dramatic skyline outlined against the Derbyshire landscape. (Vanessa Toulmin)

This film is part of the Mitchell and Kenyon collection - an amazing visual record of everyday life in Britain at the beginning of the twentieth century. For more information about the films of Mitchell and Kenyon see http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/mk/

To buy the DVD click here - http://www.bfi.org.uk/filmstore

You can watch over 1000 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge in the Mediatheque at BFI Southbank, London and from October 2008 at the new QUAD centre for art and film in Derby - http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque
http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/bfi-mediatheque

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• BFI
• Mitchell
• and
• Kenyon
• Victorian
• Edwardian
• Buxton
• Derbyshire
• England
• Britain
• Georgian
• architecture
• spa

[rosieh101]

What a ridiculous comment! Have you not seen the Mitchell and Kenyon collection that the blurb describes as an amazing visual record (not just this film)? Take a look at them (there are a lot on YouTube) as they are extraordinary! And for the record I really like this film too. It's great to see any films from this period.

[warlockuk]

Wow. Someone needs to film a followup vid in the same spot. It does pretty much look the same. Kinda.  The road to the station has changed, and there's traffic lights and stuff... but that's about it.

[benbisley]

Thanks for this.

I used to live in Buxton as a child.

What's changed?

The Midland station has been demolished, as has the Empire Hotel (seen next to St John's Church right at the end of the film.) The remaining LNWR station has lost its overall roof. The pump-room is bereft of its cupolas.

A lovely town.

[stehowson]

Buxton is gorgeous

[warlockuk]

@tippitytop1 Yeah - they still stand; I used to live in Buxton.  It's pretty much the same :D

[tippitytop1]

@warlockuk

well I Google earthed it and the dome and crescent building still stands :)

...no circle crops to report though

[kipps2]

We're very lucky to have the Mitchell and Kenyon films, a great discovery .... well done to all involved including the BFI.

[trimmytrab]

No pictures of the Silverlands?

[milesdavisblackmx5]

I used to own a flat in Corbar Towers on Corbar Road built in 1840. So, it would have been 61 years old even when this film was made!. Stupidly I sold it in 2003and it has since doubled in value.

[lukeallcock2]

i went to buxton college (the dome) and it wiered looking at it bk in 1901 it looks pretty much the same only in colour and a bit more mondern. i have stood where that film was taken. i find that amazing