Buxton

Poster, British Railways (London Midland Region), Buxton, Pavilion Gardens, The Derbyshire Spa of Blue Waters, by Kenneth Steel, 1950. Coloured lithograph depicting the River Wye flowing through the gardens and over a cascade, with a footbridge and the Octagon Concert Hall in the background. Text in bottom margin reads "Published by the Railway Executive (London Midland Region) LM 3750. Printed in Great Britain by R. B. Macmillan Ltd., Derby". Format double royal.

British Railways (London Midland Region) poster by Kenneth Steel promoting the town of Buxton, 1950. It depicts the Pavilion Gardens, accompanied by the slogan "The Derbyshire Spa of Blue Waters" In the foreground the River Wye runs over a cascade, with a footbridge and the Octagon Concert Hall beyond.

Buxton's geothermal spring led to its development as a spa town and it developed rapidly when the railway arrived in 1863. The line, built by the Midland Railway, connected the town to Derby and the wider rail network.

The Pavilion Gardens, designed by Edward Milner and making use of natural features, opened in 1871. The Octagon, by the architect Robert Rippon Duke, was completed in 1875 and was used for concerts, dances and other events. It was refurbished in 2018.

The artist, Kenneth Steel was born in Sheffield in 1906 and studied at Sheffield College of Art. He worked as an engraver, printmaker, draughtsman and artist in drypoint, watercolours and oils. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and created works for commercial clients in industry. Between 1948 and 1964 Steel designed posters and carriage prints for British Railways. He died in 1970.