Robert Rippon Duke (RRD) was a self-taught architect who came to Buxton in 1849. He arrived here as a broken man, sadly cholera had taken the life of his wife and four of his five children from him. His doctor warned him that the Buxton climate would kill him too within a month if he came! Fortunately for the town he did come and made a major impact and lived until the age of 92. The Octagon, part of the Pavilion Gardens complex and the Devonshire Dome, now part of the University of Derby, were perhaps his defining contributions.
Last year a brick was found at the Serpentine Community Garden project embellished with the label ‘Buxton’ which is odd as the town was not noted for brick production. It may however be another part of the RRD legacy. On his arrival in Buxton, RRD was Clerk of Works for the construction of the Royal Hotel. This is the building which houses Trek and Trail and WH Smith in Spring Gardens, Buxton. He built a brickworks at the back of Spring Gardens and the bricks went into the construction of the Royal and other buildings in Buxton. 
It was stone though rather than brick that eventually became the hallmark of RRD . He came to a town of 11 streets and laid out another 34 including Devonshire Road, Robertson Road and College Road. RRD had firm ideas of what a building should look like. It should have large overhanging eaves, tall chimneys and decorated stonework around the windows. Nothing else would really do. Within fourteen years of arriving in Buxton he became Surveyor for the Devonshire Buxton Estate and wielded considerable power.
Sometimes it is not possible to be certain if RRD actually designed the premises himself .If an applicant wished to gain approval for a design of a new property then RRD would be the man scrutinising the plans on behalf of the Estate. If you wanted approval, time would be saved by paying regard to what RRD regarded as a suitable design. Derby House on Broad Walk, currently entering a new phase of its existence, is one of many buildings which pose a frequently asked question. Is it an RRD design or the result of someone shrewdly tuned into RRD taste?
Buxton though is undoubtedly scattered with examples of iconic RRD designs, such as the Buckingham Hotel, which he designed as two lodging houses. This hotel, of course, currently has an uncertain future. He designed his own home too, Park House, 8 Manchester Road, still a perfect example of an RRD styled gem…