What is the connection between Exeter ‘Change and The Crescent, Buxton, Derbyshire?

On the face of it there is no connection between the two places, especially as they are almost two hundred miles apart, however, it is not the structures, but the people within them who provide the link, as we will soon discover.

Readers will no doubt be aware of Exeter ‘Change, London, and those living in the early 1800’s most definitely would have been aware of it, as it was where Gilbert Pidcock,  exhibited his wild and curious animals in the second floor menagerie.

Those in the upper classes would have been very familiar with Buxton, as it was one of the spa towns frequented by them on a very regular basis. The Crescent was commissioned by the 5th Duke of Devonshire and designed by the architect, John Carr. The Crescent was a multifunctional structure containing hotels, shops, a post office and a public promenade all under one roof.

The Crescent, Buxton, Derbyshire Daniel Orme (c.1766–c.1832) (attributed to) Buxton Museum & Art Gallery

According to Fleming’s Weekly Express, 1 August 1824

The Crescent consisted of three stories, the lowest is rustic, and forms a beautiful colonnade, which extends the whole length of the front, being seven feet wide within those pillars, and eleven feet high. In the centre are the arms of the Cavendish family, neatly carved in stone, but surmounted with a pair of natural stag’s horns. The number of windows in this spacious building is 378; it is constructed of gritstone obtained near the spot. 

It is divided into one house and three hotels, called the Great Hotel, the Centre Hotel and St Ann’s Hotel. In the Great Hotel is the ballroom. From June to October, three assemblies are usually held here every week On Monday and Friday an undress, and on Wednesday a dress ball. Adjoining to the ballroom is an elegant car room, where the London papers  are received soon after eight ‘oclock.

As interesting as this description is of The Crescent as it looked in 1824, you’re probably still wondering where this is leading, well, bear with me and all will become clear.

At the beginning of the 1800’s the St Ann’s hotel in Buxton was being run by a George Goodwin (1756-1810) and his wife Sarah (c1745-1821).

George and Sarah had two children Ann and George living with them at this time. Their business continued with the couple busy caring for the needs of those visiting the town to take the waters, to dance and socialise until George’s untimely death at the age of 54. George left a considerable legacy of over £10,000 (c £650k in today’s money).

Sarah decided to continue running the hotel until her death and was joined by her widowed brother-in-law who stepped in to help out. Enter Philip Moore (1753-1838), who initially lived in the house in the Crescent, from where he and his late wife had sold stationery and administered the circulating library.

Mr Moore’s Library with his name above the door. With grateful thanks to Buxton Museum

We can see this business union from a notice placed by Philip in the Stamford Mercury, 7 June 1811. Philip had two sons, by his late wife, Letitia (c1760-c1804), Philip (1792-1849) and John Storer (1794-1821) living with him, who he needed to support, so it made sense, as well as keeping it all in the family.

The Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury, etc 14 June 1811

Now, on that subject, we move on to Sarah’s sister, Ann (c1748-1828). Sarah’s first husband, William Matthews died in 1795 and in 1797, Ann married again when she was almost 50, her second husband being a Robert Smith, was a mere 22.

Bath Journal 30 May 1808 – Centre Hotel

The Centre Hotel, was next door to her sister and the house of her brother-in-law and as we see in 1807 they refurbished and expanded the property. This family were clearly building up their own empire in Buxton.

Buxton YCBA

Sarah and Ann had at least 11 other siblings, several of whom had died prior to 1800, but still very much alive was their youngest brother, Charles (1768-1817). Charles married Caroline Brocklehurst in 1794, and in this tradition of running hotels, Charles and Caroline took on the tenancy of what was then known as The New George, a coaching inn, which was near to The Old George* (picture here), in the neighbouring village of Tideswell, just 6 miles from Buxton, which they ran together. It isn’t clear where this inn would have been in the village though.

The George Hotel and Parish Church Tideswell- geograph.org.uk-1738721

The couple had two children, Gilbert and Caroline, both born in Tideswell, but by 1810 they had moved to Buxton, where Charles and family took on another inn, until Charles died in 1817.

Derby Mercury – 29 September 1803 naming Charles Pidcock

The one thing I haven’t said as yet, is the surname of this family, it was Pidcock, and in case you hadn’t worked it out, it was their brother Gilbert who was the most famous member of the family.

Gilbert Pidcock V&A

Gilbert, although having completed his apprenticeship as an ironmonger, in Derbyshire, established a travelling menagerie, before eventually settling in London, having taken over Exeter ‘Change from Thomas Clark and where he lived until his death in 1810. It was his will that provided clues as to his family in the Buxton area, as several siblings were named in his will. Although Gilbert never married, he did father several children, all of whom were acknowledged in his will.  His two daughters by a Sarah Wilkinson – Charlotte and Mary Ann, relocated from London to Buxton, where Mary Ann went on to marry John Storer Moore, the son of Philip, thereby continuing the family involvement in the Buxton hotels, until he decided to become a farmer too.

Stamford Mercury 3 April 1818

Charlotte married a farmer, clearly the hotel trade was not for her.

So, there we have it, the connection between Exeter ‘Change and the Crescent, Buxton.

 

*With grateful thanks to Dale Norris, former landlord of The George, Tideswell, in trying to establish which George Inn was which.

Sources

Staffordshire, Dioceses of Litchfield and Coventry Wills and probate 1521-1860