Buxworth

The village name has had a chequered history, starting off as Buggesworth in 1222, then Bugsworth in 1625. In the summer of 1929 the villagers had a choice of ‘Bugsworth’ or ‘Buxworth’, according to the original petition document, which was rescued from a refuse bin in the late 1980’s. There were 365 signatures for ‘Buxworth’ and only 3 against.

During 1999 there was an attempt to put the ‘bug’ back in Buxworth, in order to commemorate the Millennium, but villagers voted the idea down, so it remains ‘Buxworth’ to some and ‘Buggy’ to others. 

Buxworth is the site of the terminal basin for the Peak Forest Canal (see Whaley Bridge), finished in 1800. It became one of the largest ports on the English narrow canal network during the 19th century, and remains unique as the only complete example of a canal and tramway terminus in Britain. ‘Bugsworth Basin’ was granted the status of a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1977.

Buxworth used to have several public houses. Nowadays there is one inn, the Navigation, and a war memorial club known as ‘Buggy Club’.