Matthew Howarth, Programme and Events Manager
You might not be able to tell from this photo, but I have always been a bit of a history buff, fascinated by how people lived their lives in the past. I feel I really have found my dream job here at Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust. Who else gets to dress up as often as I do and make history as accessible and engaging as possible!
It has taken months of work, but finally the first ever Buxton History Festival will take place. The Crescent and The Pump Room will take centre stage in this celebration of creativity and discovery. There will be talks, performances and immersive experiences exploring stories of bravery, ingenuity and simple human achievement through the ages. I’m also delighted that the stunning neo-classical St John’s church, commissioned by the 5th Duke of Devonshire in 1811, will also be a venue for talks.
My personal highlights include Dr Meg Kobza’s exploration of Georgian masquerade balls, Professor Rory Naismith’s reassessment of King Offa of Mercia, Dr Serena Dyer’s look at the fashion of past eras, and Professor Nick Higham’s discussion on the making of early England. Each event offers a fresh perspective on the past, with historians, authors and performers bringing centuries of human experience vividly to life. It should all be incredibly inspirational.
A festival that celebrates the richness of our shared past while making it exciting and accessible to everyone was my original vision, and being able to stage these events in our magnificent Georgian buildings means that we are inviting people to literally step into history.
Organised by the Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust, the festival supports the Trust’s mission to celebrate and share Buxton’s remarkable Georgian architecture and spa heritage. This inaugural year also marks a special milestone — it is the very first Buxton History Festival, proudly sponsored by Yale University Press, whose support helps bring world-class historical research to a wider public audience.
For tickets and full listings, visit buxtoncrescentexperience.com/tour/buxtonhistoryfestival
