The original ''Devonshire'' as it is locally known, is designed by the architect John Carr of York and was built in 1789 without its Dome which we see today, built as the Great Stables to provide stabling for the three Hotels of The Crescent, this offered something quite uniqe in the fact that horses could be excercised around the top of the building, in around 1854 The Buxton Bath Charity formed in 1779 were trying to find a suitable location to build a hospital, in order that patients who were crippled and infirm and who had no alternative but to stay in lodging houses around town, didn't have far to travel to take the waters.

In 1859 the Duke agreed that part of the Great Stables could be given over and used as a hospital, although this arrangement could not have been wholley succesful as the horses still occupied the ground floor. By 1877 the Duke was finaly persueded to allow the whole of the building to be used as a hospital and work started on this most adventurous project in September 1879 under the Architect to whom Buxton owes so much of it's Victorian building Robert Rippon Duke. The public opening ceremony took place on October 11th 1881 with many local groups, societys and school children taking part in a procession from the Market Place The statue that stood in the Dome was of The 7th Duke of Devonshire , this was actually the plaster original of a Bronze which was erected at Eastbourne.

The distance between the pilllars supporting the Dome is 138 feet and the Maximum Diameter is 145 feet with a height in thre centre of 75 feet and the Maximum internal diameter of the floor is 164 feet as this extends further than the Dome itself, the pillars are reputed to have come from the ruins of Bolton Abbey, and the wrought- iron ribs that support the roof are secured around the base to a wrought- iron ring to prevent the vast weight from pushing apart the pillars, the Clock Tower was also added in 1880-81 paid for by subscription as a testimonial to Dr Robertson, this still chimes every quarter and all these features can still be seen, the ''Devonshire Royal Hospital'' after closing its doors to patients is enjoying a new lease of life after recently undergoing major refurbishment and is now the home of The University of Derby Buxton Campus. The General Public are allowed free access to the Dome whenever the University is open so when visiting Buxton take the time to go and stand in the Dome and admire the construction of this amazing building, you should also test out the acoustics in the Dome as even softly spoken word on one side can be clearly heard 164 feet away on the other.