Permanent collections

These include:

• carboniferous limestone fossil record of the Peak District collected between 1900 and 1950;
• Pliocene mammal evidence from caves throughout the Peak District;
• the archives and libraries of Professor Sir William Boyd Dawkins and Dr J.W. Jackson, geologists associated with the county and with Manchester Museum;
• Board photographic archive of images of Buxton;
• local social history and ephemera;
• Randolph Douglas 'House of Wonders' collection from Castleton which includes a huge collection of locks and keys and some very unusual Houdini material;
• fine art collection dominated by 19th and 20th century works in watercolours, oils and prints, including works by Brangwyn, Chagall, Chahine and their contemporaries.  

Amongst the minerals are blue john, local specimens, and cave deposits. The collection of decorative Ashford Black Marble wares and the tools to work it is unique.

Exhibitions are drawn from these collections. Access to them otherwise is with prior arrangement with the curatorial staff.

Several other collections relating to Derbyshire are also managed from Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, including:

• Derbyshire Police Collection
• Derbyshire Social History collection.   

The museum provides support and advice to the Derbyshire Schools Library Service (opens in a new window) and to the independent museums in Derbyshire.

Curatorial staff at the museum are happy to help with enquiries and identifications. If we do not have the expertise to help, we will advise you of a museum that can. Please note that we cannot provide financial valuations

The museum continues to collect material. The museum's Acquisition and Disposal Policy (2006) is available for consultation.

The policy can be viewed in the related documents section on this page.