Visitors Shown How Dome Went From Horses To Courses
6 August 2010
Guided tours of Buxton's magnificent Devonshire Dome being run throughout the summer by students at the University of Derby Buxton are proving extremely popular, with up to 12 visitors enjoying each tour.
The Travel and Tourismdegree students have developed and launched the hour-long 'From Horses to Courses' tours' around their University campus as part of their studies, with support from High Peak Borough Council. The tours are running every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning at 11am until August 31 2010.
Visitors will be shown around the Grade II* listed Devonshire Dome, hear that it was designed by great Georgian architect John Carr for its first purpose as stable block and learn its history up until its present use as a university campus. They will also hear how the building's design echoes the architectural style of the 5th Duke of Devonshire's neoclassical crescent and how it remains the UK's largest unsupported Dome, bigger even than St Paul's Cathedral's.
Fay Fallows, one of the Travel and Tourism degree students who organised the tours, said: "Visitors to Buxton who come through the doors of the Dome are amazed by its scale, and the unique shape and style of the building, and want to learn the history behind it. This is why we developed this guided tour and are putting it on throughout the summer."
"We want to thank the council for helping us to produce the publicity material and distributing it to tourists, and the staff at Buxton Tourist Information Centre for their enthusiasm in promoting the tours."
Tours take place every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until August 31 2010 at a cost of £4 per person or £3.50 for pensioners. Admission is free for the under fives. Bookings must be made in advance through Buxton Tourist Information Centre on (01298) 25106 or at the Pavilion Gardens, St. John's Road.
To watch a video of the tours visit the video news pages. For more information about this news release, contact Press & PR Officer Joanna Colburn on 01332 593004 or 07909 533242 email j.colburn@derby.ac.uk
