Description

BUXTON

SK0573SE ST JOHN'S ROAD, Pavilion Gardens
616-1/4/104 (South side)
21/12/70 The Octagonal
(Formerly Listed as:
THE PAVILION
Octagonal Hall)

GV II

Concert hall. 1875, extended C20 and restored 1994. Designed
by Robert Ripon Duke. Stone foundations to cast-iron, timber
and glass structure under banded slate roof.
PLAN: octagonal.
EXTERIOR: single tall storey. 8 sides with gabled entrance
fronts to north and south. South side has 7 windows divided by
tall square cast-iron columns, with moulded capitals and
bases, these window lights are arranged 1:2:3:2:1, all with
stone bases and three horizontal divisions, 12 panes, 3 panes
and 12 panes with curved iron brackets at eaves. Central
section has glazed double doors and margin lights to windows,
topped with broad glazed pediment with tripartite fanlight and
side lights. Attached to the corners on the upper floor are 2
ornate iron scrolled brackets supporting single lamps.
North entrance front similar though obscured by later
alterations and additions.
Other fronts have 4 windows, with window lights arranged
2:3:3:2 with similar glazing and dividing columns. Some fronts
obscured by earlier and later buildings. All other fronts
topped with ornate iron railings.
Slate roof has 8 sided shallow hipped roof and then central
octagonal dome with a single dormer window to each face. These
dormers have tripartite windows with round headed central
lights, with margin light glazing, pilaster surrounds
supporting entablature with urns and central iron finial. Dome
is topped with cast-iron crown.
The exterior rain water goods bear the inscription: R & J
Rankin /Union Foundry /Liverpool.
INTERIOR: paired cast-iron columns part fluted with ornate
capitals support the central dome section, with the roof line
sloping on cast-iron ribs to the outer edges. Decoration
includes ornate spandrels and trellises. There are lunettes to
north and south. An inserted stage and ceiling obscure some of
the original structure.
HISTORY: this Concert Hall was built as part of the
entertainment buildings constructed on the north side of the
Pavilion Gardens, which were donated to the town by the 7th

Duke of Devonshire.
(The Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Derbyshire:
Harmondsworth: 1953-1986: 117).

Listing NGR: SK0552773442

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• The Octagon official website
• Wikidata Q26549293

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2