Collection: Buxton Museum and Art Gallery

Collection-level records:

• Collection overview (Cornucopia)

  Archaeology Collection

  Local significance and National Importance. The archaeological collections cover the period of earliest evidence of people in the Peak District to the medieval period, c.1400. The collections are particularly rich in archaeological remains from caves, with a collection of Pleistocene vertebrae which is of national importance and in artefacts from the Peak District Roman forts. The F.A. Holmes collection of stone implements contain Eolithic and Palaeolithic tools from around the world. Most of the important finds are published and constitute a highly important record of the Roman presence in the South Pennines. Collections predominantly from 19th and early 20th century excavations.

  Subjects

  Roman period; Archaeology; Prehistoric period; Archaeological objects; Archaeological excavations

  Social History Collection

  Local significance. The collection related principally to Buxton and a radius of about five miles and includes material from the 17th century to the present day. Of particular importance are souvenirs of the town and relics of local industry. There are social history objects relating to local government, law and order and toys. There are ephemera collections relating to the local history of Buxton, in particular the Ros McCoola collection of theatre ephemera related to the Buxton Opera House.

  Subjects

  Theatrical production; Local government; Law; Social history; Toys; Souvenirs; Theatre

  Biology Collection

  The biology collection is small with little material of local significance, it includes lepidoptera collection of the Rev Green of Buxton and a collection of shells and coral deposited from John Turner House. Active collecting not pursued.

  Subjects

  Natural sciences; Coral; Shells; Insects; Biology

  Photography Collection

  Regional significance. The principal collection is the J.R. Board photographic archive dating from c. 1860-c.1960, which was amassed by a single family firm. The collection includes glass plates, prints and negative material and provides a unique record of Buxton for the period. In addition the museum holds a collection of local views of Buxton and Derbyshire.

  Subjects

  Photographic equipment; Photographs

  Personalia Collection

  Local significance. Collection contains the archives of Sir William Boyd Dawkins and J.W.Jackson. Including specimens, tools, records, photographs and correspondence with the foremost scientists of the day including Darwin, Owen, Pengely and Huxley.

  Subjects

  Scientific research; Scientific heritage; Personal history; Scientific equipment; Personal property; Personal archives; Science

  Science and Industry Collection

  Local history collections, besides material relating to Ashford Marble and Blue John industries, also includes some coal mining, lead mining and quarrying material. Local significance.

  Subjects

  Quarrying; Local history; Geology; Lead mining; Coal mining; Science; Crafts; Industry

  Decorative and Applied Arts Collection

  The collection contains the best representative collection of Ashford Marble ornaments, and the Blue John and Spar collections which are manufactured locally also rank high in British collections. Other material is present in the collection closely linked to local history, e.g. glass, stained glass, souvenir ware, and furniture. Local and National significance.

  Subjects

  Ceramics; Decorative glass; Decorative arts; Furniture; Geology; Marble; Glass; Minerals; Crafts

  Geology Collection

  Local and Regional significance. The collection contains the important geology collections of Sir William Boyd Dawkins and Dr J.W. Jackson. The Jackson collection of Lower Carboniferous fossils (c 17,000 specimens) is of national importance and covers the palaeontology of the Peak District. The collections are strong in mineralogy, but weak in named rock types. Some of the Pleistocene collections are of national importance (e.g. Dove Holes mammalia).

  Subjects

  Rocks; Fossils; Geology; Palaeontology; Minerals

  Fine Art Collection

  Local significance and National interest. The permanent collection contains about 400 paintings, drawings and prints. Two major strengths: English 19th C watercolours and 20th century European prints. Of the collection of oil paintings, main strength are English works 1900-1950, including Brangwyn, Chagall, Utrillo, Augustus John and Lowry. Remaining works are generally topographical views of Derbyshire in all media.

  Subjects

  Watercolour painting; Fine arts; Paintings; Prints; Drawings; Topography

  Local Studies Library Collection

  Regional significance. The collection includes the J.R. Board photographic archive dating from c.1860 to 1960, amassed by a single family firm. This includes glass plates, prints and negatives of Buxton and local social history, plus ephemera. The ephemera include the Ros McCoola collection of theatre ephemera related to the Buxton opera house.

  Subjects

  Local history; Photographs; Social history

  Buxton Museum Theatre Collection

  The theatrical holdings of Buxton Museum comprise several collections: Buxton playbills 1790s+ (especially 19th century); Buxton programmes, mainly early 20th century, but also now including the run for Buxton Playhouse 1946-65; the Jill Dick Collection of ephemera relating to Chapel-en-le-Frith (Jill was a theatre critic for the High Peak area, late 1960s-1980s); and the McCoola Collection, which contains photographs, cuttings, ephemera for Buxton theatre history and the reinstatement of the Buxton Opera House and Buxton Festival. There is also a small collection of ephemera relating to Harry Houdini in the Randolf Douglas Collection.; None Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, Derbyshire County Council.

  Subjects

  Regional theatre; 18th century; 19th century; 20th century; Peak District; Theatre; Performers

  Ethnography Collection

  International interest. The collection contains some specimens within the Boyd Dawkins and the Douglas collections. Not actively collected.

  Subjects

  Ethnology

  Transport Collection

  Local interest. Collection contains some material relating to local transport.

  Subjects

  Transport

  Numismatics Collection

  The collection contains coins dating from the Roman periods to the present day and a collection of trade tokens. Most important is the Buxton coin hoard collected from the Natural Baths in Buxton and on loan from High Peak Borough Council, but the collection is representative of almost all periods. Local significance.

  Subjects

  Roman period; Numismatics; Tokens; Coins

  Professor Dawkins Library Collection

  Regional significance. The collection covers the subject of caving.

  Subjects

  Geographical exploration; Caves

  Randolf Douglas Collection

  Collection of books and ephemera relating to Houdini. National significance.

  Subjects

  Escapes; Magic; Personal history; Personal property

  J.W. Jackson Library Collection

  Regional significance. A collection on caves, fossils and minerals.

  Subjects

  Fossils; Geology; Palaeontology

  Archives Collection

  Collection includes important archive information associated with geology and archaeology – the Boyd Dawkins and Jackson archive. Local history collection includes printed ephemera. Local significance.

  Subjects

  Printed ephemera; Local history; Archaeology; Geology; Archives

  Source: Cornucopia

  Date: Not known, but before 2015

  Licence: CC BY-NC