Local studies at Buxton Library

Buxton Library holds a collection of books and pamphlets on Buxton and villages in the High Peak. Subjects covered include Peak District guides, spa water, railways and mills.

Standard works on Derbyshire include:

  • Farey's General view of Agriculture and Minerals of Derbyshire
  • Victoria County History
  • Cox's Three Centuries of Derbyshire Annals
  • Pilkington's Derbyshire
  • Davies' A new historical and descriptive view of Derbyshire.      

Periodicals include:

  • Derbyshire Life and Countryside from 1931
  • Derbyshire Archaeological Journal from 1879.      

Five local newspapers are held on microfilm:

  • Buxton Advertiser 1855 to present
  • Buxton Herald and Visitors Gazette of Fashion 1842 to 1951
  • Buxton Times 1983 to present
  • High Peak Herald 1909 to 1914
  • High Peak News 1870 to 1959.      

Newspaper cuttings have been taken from the Buxton Advertiser over the last 30 years recording local events, industries, buildings and people.

Other resources include:

  • A good range of local histories for the Peak District, Buxton itself and all the surrounding villages.

  • Transcripts of some parish registers and memoirs of local people including the journals of Alderman Hibbert of New Mills on microfiche.

  • A complete set of Derbyshire directories available on microfiche from 1808 to 1977 (some original directories are also held).

  • A collection of approximately 3,500 photographs relating to Buxton and the High Peak villages dating from the late 19th century to the present day, covering events, buildings, views, industries, well dressings and people. The library also houses the Buxton Advertiser photograph collection.

  • Ordnance Survey and other maps are kept for Buxton and area at a variety of scales dating from the 1860s to 1980s and including 50 inch plans for the centre of Buxton.

  • Census Enumerators' Returns 1841 to 1901 for Buxton and High Peak (excluding Charlesworth, Chisworth and Glossop) are available on microfilm. Derbyshire Dales parishes north of Bakewell, and some Cheshire border areas including Macclesfield Forest and Yeardsley cum Whaley are also held. Modern census statistics are available including 1991 census profiles for parishes in High Peak and electoral wards for the unparished area of Buxton.

Go to Buxton Library

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