Buxton Project

Mike Wye were proud suppliers to one of Britain’s largest lime putty plastering projects. The finest quality lime products used in a landmark restoration project.

The University of Derby are the proud residents of the old Royal Devonshire Hospital, Buxton. This impressive building also has a dome bigger than that of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The 5th Duke of Devonshire commissioned Georgian architect John Carr of York in 1779 to build the original octagonal building to create an impressive stable block. It is now classified a grade II* listed building.
Work to create the great dome was sanctioned by the Duke of Devonshire in 1877. Finally completed in 1881, the dome is now the centrepiece of the University’s Devonshire Campus.

The University took ownership of the building from the NHS in 2001 and the renovation began. Specialist crafts people were engaged to work on joinery, lead roofing, glazing and the traditional lime plastering.

Mike Wye, having long been established as one of the country’s leading lime producers, were a natural choice to supply lime putty plasters for this prestigious project. Of course, our materials were not simply chosen out of sentiment. The Mike Wye team provided invaluable technical support to the plasterers based on our years of practical experience.

The University of Derby, Devonshire Campus.	University of Derby, Buxton Campus	University of Derby, Buxton Campus
Buxton Dome	Buxton Dome	Buxton Dome Centre Light

Materials Employed

Up to 266,000 kg of Mike Wye lime plasters were used on the project. We believe this makes it the largest building lime project of it’s kind in the UK (after the Covent Garden renovations that Mike Wye also supplied).

Materials used in Detail:

• 223,000 kg of Haired Lime Mortar.
• 37,500 kg of Lime Plaster.
• 1,188 kg of pure Lime Putty.
• 37,800 linear feet of lath.

Inside the Dome

Set within the beautiful Peak district, the journey to Buxton builds the anticipation.

At over 150 feet in diameter, the Buxton Dome was once the worlds largest unsupported dome and is the largest in the UK. On entering, the sheer scale is awe inspiring. Light streams through glazed sections, bathing areas inside with golden light that moves around with the sun.

Once inside, no visit is complete without going to the very centre of the room. Acoustics are quite extraordinary, simply having a normal conversation offers a unique experience.

The quote below is taken from visitbuxton.co.uk

From Horses to Courses

Once a magnificent 18th Century stable block built by the 5th Duke of Devonshire to house the horses and servants of the guests. It is now the new campus of the University of Derby in Buxton.

The original stables were built by John Carr of York – one of the Grandest 18th Century buildings in Buxton.
Robert Rippon Duke erected the slate dome in 1882 for the Royal Devonshire Hospital.

The vast central space beneath the dome is home to cafes, shops, restaurants and study spaces.