HIGH PEAK BOROUGH COUNCIL & STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS DISTRICT COUNCIL Buxton Opera House Repairs and Maintenance Works – Heritage Statement Buxton Opera House, Buxton Derbyshire SK17 6XN Heritage Statement Introduction The following is an extract of the details of the Listing for this building. DESCRIPTION: The Opera House GRADE: II* DATE LISTED: 21 December 1970 ENGLISH HERITAGE BUILDING ID: 463422 OS GRID REFERENCE: SK0562573485 OS GRID COORDINATES: 405625, 373485 LATITUDE/LONGITUDE: 53.2583, -1.9171 LOCATION: Water Street, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6XN LOCALITY: Buxton LOCAL AUTHORITY: High Peak Borough Council COUNTY: Derbyshire COUNTRY: England POSTCODE: SK17 6XN The following information relates to the details of the listing and a description of the building (http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk); Opera House 1901-03, restored 1979. Designed by Frank Matcham, restored by Derek Sugden of Ove Arup Partners. Coursed rock-faced gritstone with ashlar dressings and Welsh slate roofs. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys plus attic. East symmetrical entrance front has 5 windows with curved ends. Banded pilasters to ground floor with entablature, plain pilasters to upper floors. Central recessed entrance flanked by single fluted and banded Doric columns in-antis, with pair of glazed double doors and canted glazed side panels plus 4 overlights with circular glazing. Above a concave plaster with scrolls. Either side a round headed doorway with fanlight, that to right now blocked. Beyond single canted doorways with double panel doors. Central 3 bays covered by ornate iron and glass canopy supported on 2 columns each topped by an octagonal lantern. Above large central Diocletian window in moulded surround with keystone and curved balustrade, flanked by plain sashes in moulded surrounds with keystones. Topped by ramped parapet inscribed OPERA HOUSE with coat-of-arms above, flanked by balustrades with urn finials. Beyond curved sides have 2 plain sashes in moulded surrounds. Above, on either side 2 circular domed towers with paired squat Doric columns and 4 glazing bar windows, topped with entablature, ramped parapet and pedimented finials. Ribbed lead dome to each tower surmounted by ball finial. 1635_A_Heritage Report.doc 1 / 3 HIGH PEAK BOROUGH COUNCIL & STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS DISTRICT COUNCIL Buxton Opera House Repairs and Maintenance Works – Heritage Statement North front to Water Street has irregular stepped frontage in 3 blocks each stepped forward to right. Left block, 3-storey and 4 windows, has curved projecting porch supported on 2 wooden columns and 2 double doors, above to right semi-circular projection with 3 windows and shallow lead bell-canted dome. Windows in moulded vertical panels those to first floor with blind round heads. Curved section to right has 2 windows to top floor. Central block, 2 storeys and 2 windows, has central canted porch with double doors to centre and left each topped with a pediment, right has external staircase wall. Above 2 Venetian windows. Right block, 3 storeys and 5 windows, has large segment headed doorway with keystone and double panel doors. Above a circular window with ornate iron hanging lantern flanked by thin pilasters and topped by pediment. To left single sash to each floor. To right 3 pairs of plain sashes to each floor, upper floors flanked by thin pilasters and topped by pediments. Beyond to right canted corner with large doorway with lintel inscribed STAGE ENTRANCE and above 3 plain sashes, above again 3 round headed sashes. Topped by ramped parapet with 6 ball finials, set back hipped roof topped by octagonal glass and iron lantern with pyramidal roof and finial. INTERIOR: Baroque Revival style decoration by Dejong of London described by Pevsner as "sumptuous". Good foyer, stairs, and auditorium with elaborate plaster decoration to proscenium arch, boxes, balcony fronts and ceiling with painted panels. Classical and Art Nouveau influences to stained glass. Reputed to have original stage equipment. The original gasolier and distributor for the gas lighting and ventilation system is still evident. (TAD note: Although not operational) HISTORY: The Opera House was opened on 1 June 1903, it cost »25,000. It became a cinema in the 1950's, was restored and re-opened as a theatre on 30 July 1979, with a performance of Donizwtti's "Lucia di Lammermoor". Proposed Works The proposed works on the Opera House are almost exclusively on the exterior of the building and have been identified in the client’s maintenance reports as requiring immediate attention to prevent further deterioration of the fabric of the building. The works include the refurbishment of the external walls, including the temporary removal of the coping stones to the roof parapet walls to enable the insertion of a dpc under the copings to prevent the ingress of water down these walls. Internally, water ingress has rusted 2 structural beams supporting the parapet wall above and following a Structural Engineer’s investigation these are to be replaced as part of the refurbishment works. Several cracks are apparent in the external stone walls which are to be re-pointed as a minimum but will be investigated by the Structural Engineer to see if further works are needed once access is established. 1635_A_Heritage Report.doc 2 / 3 HIGH PEAK BOROUGH COUNCIL & STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS DISTRICT COUNCIL Buxton Opera House Repairs and Maintenance Works – Heritage Statement The existing rwp’s and soil and waste pipes on the exterior of the building show some rusting which has caused leakage in some pipes. Where pipes are leaking and cannot be refurbished these are to be replaced with similar pipe work to match the existing and all external pipes are to be repainted to match the existing pipe colour to maintain the appearance of the building. Existing windows are to be retained but refurbished by repainting the window frames to match the colour and paint of the existing windows to maintain the appearance of the building. The existing lantern on the roof of the building has been identified in the Clients maintenance reports as requiring attention. The Lantern is octagonal in shape and the roof covering appears to be an asbestos based product which has deteriorated and requires attention. We are proposing replacing the decking and covering to this roof with lead which would be in keeping with the building. There is an existing finial on the apex of the lantern roof which is to be re-fitted if it is found to be suitable and undamaged when access is gained. If the existing finial is damaged or unsuitable for re-using, following discussions with the conservation officer, it will be replaced with either a cast aluminium or lead clad hardwood finial to replicate the existing finial. All the proposed works are maintenance items and will not affect the appearance of the building. Discussions have taken place previously with the conservation officers and their recommendations have been incorporated into the specification and detailing. 1635_A_Heritage Report.doc 3 / 3 .