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The Romans came to Buxton or Aqua Arnemetiai in AD 78 and were welcomed by Queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes who ruled the North Midlands, she realised that it was more profitable to fall in with the Romans rather than fight them, sadly her husband was not of the same opinion!
Buxton was of interest to the Romans first and foremost for the rich pickings underground, mainly Lead, and the beautiful Blue John, but a secondary advantage was the naturally hot water that freely sprang from the ground as it still does today. Should you wish to see the original spring, first find the Crescent which is being renovated behind the Cavendish Arcade in the centre of town. There you will see St Ann's spring where a constant flow of warm water can be used to fill up as many water bottles as you please. On the other side of the street is Buxton Museum, where the original crack in the ground continues to pump out fresh water to the Devonshire Hospital, St Ann's spring, the baths and to the Buxton Mineral Water bottling plant.
We left Buxton by heading north along the A6 past the golf course where you will see the original Roman road running straight across the fairways, the first right turning after the course is Batham Gate a Roman road with a Saxon name (Baths Road) heading towards the village of Peak Forest within the Peak District. All of the area you are now entering was the Forest of the Peak which belonged to the King and was a hunting area. The Church within the village of Peak Forest, dedicated to Charles King and Martyr, was not bound by normal Church rules (because it was in the King's land) and in 1660 they started to allow "Foreigners" to marry there. Like Gretna Green these were people from outside the parish who could just turn up, pay their money, and be married. Most of the couples stayed at "The Stag's Head" which is now called "The Devonshire", on the other side of the road from the church.
Examples of Lead mining can be seen all around the village, especially on top of the moors to the north east. The Romans were very keen on mining this area because the Lead Ore lay so close to the surface, it would be carried to an area with plenty of trees, cooked in huge smelting fires and the Lead would fall to the bottom, collected and made into "Pigs" each weighing around 180lbs. It was here that we met Doug Agnew who runs Peak Experience, creative courses set within the Peak District.
The collapsed road at Shivering Mountain can be seen by taking the B6061 from Sparrowpit, or the A625 from Chapel en le Frith which eventually disappears so be careful! Another route down to Castleton is Winnats Pass a spectacular limestone gorge and the scene of the murder by local miners of a young couple on their way to be married at Peak Forest in the early 1700's. On a summer's evening you are said to be able to hear their horses!
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