Solomon's Temple

Now I know Solomon's Temple located in Buxton is pushing the boundaries of the Fabulous North, however it's one of my favourite places. Not just because it's a cracking folly up a hill, but because it also brings back fond memories.

We were staying on the caravan site below the hill and I recall myself and my 3 year old bairn venturing out into the rain, up to the tower, then into the nearby forest looking for the legendary King Of The Slugs!

The first photo was from our slug expedition in 2007, whereas the second is from 2025.

Fortunately today was a much more clement day and so we could get a few more photos than we did last time.

Solomon's Temple is plonked on Grin Low hilltop, but don't worry it's just a short gentle climb to the top, although my Glamorous Assistant classed it as a 7/10 on the Wine Bribery Scale (this relates to the amount of wine I have to give her to get her to walk up a particular incline).

Bronze Age Burial Mound

What I didn't know first time up here, was that Grin Low used as a Bronze Age burial mound (barrow) dating back approx 3,500+ years (circa 1,500 BC). Fortunately this time we had Red5 who soared up and got us some pretty cool snaps.

Now the barrow accumulated multiple burials over time, but my brain has just worryingly pointed out that maybe that whole mound was filled with bodies! After a bit of digging (by archaeologists, not us) they found some Roman artefacts too showing that this barrow was still active during the Roman era.

Who Built Solomon's Temple?

The original tower here was built by Solomon Mycock in the early 19th century, sometime between 1800 and 1840. Solomon who was a local farmer and innkeeper of the Cheshire Cheese Hotel. (I'm assuming the hotel wasn't made out of cheese!)

It was intended as a folly rather than anything religious or defensive, but we know how much the Victorians liked sticking something eye catching on a hill.

Not only was it designed to be a viewpoint and shelter on Grin Low, it also helped provide employment for local men at a time when work was scarce. A common thing we have found out when researching other places such as Sharp's Folly in Rothbury.

The views from the top were pretty fab and is a smashing stop off point for anyone wanting a stroll in the area. Poet James Bannard published 'Views and Reflections taken from Solomon's Temple', praising the panoramic views.

I'm not sure if Solomon officially named the temple after himself, but it became known locally as Solomon's Temple. (I wonder if Mycock Monument was every considered?)

Ruin And Restoration

Solomon's Temple barely lasted barely half a century before collapsing into rubble. Most likely a victim of rough construction and even rougher Peak District weather!

The tower must have been sorely missed as a public meeting on the 23 February 1894 at Buxton Town Hall agreed that the landmark tower should be rebuilt.

After consulting with the agent of the 8th Duke of Devonshire (who owned the land) about the feasibility of reconstruction, the rebuild was agreed, probably with a spit and a handshake!

But the Duke wasn't going to cough up for the full amount of the rebuild which was about £100. He donated £25 while the remaining £75 came from public donations. That's about £15,000 in modern money.

A couple of sketches were submitted by architects W. R. Bryden and George Edwin Garlick, with Garlick's round tower design being selected.

Rebuilding Solomon's Temple

During the excavation of the barrow a number of items were uncovered including four skeletons, cremations, Beaker period artefacts (bell shaped drinking vessels from Early Bronze Age folk), and later Roman material.

The foundation stone was laid by Colonel Sidebottom MP on the 31 May 1896 and was witnessed by a large public crowd.

They didn't hand about as four months later in September, the new and improved Solomon's Temple was officially unveiled by Victor Cavendish (the bairn of the duke) who would later become the 9th Duke of Devonshire.

A Cracking Victorian Folly

Although this new and improved Solomon's Temple is a corker, it wouldn't have looked much like the original tower which was almost certainly a rough, loosely built stone lookout rather than anything like the neat Victorian tower we see today.

This new Victorian folly was designed as a shelter and belvedere. A two storey circular stone tower 6.1 m high. The interior contains only a staircase leading to the roof and features an open viewing platform and originally a flagpole.

Solomon's Temple became hugely popular with Victorian visitors to the Buxton spa and would feature widely on postcards and china souvenirs. A tent was sometimes erected on the hilltop for visitors.

There was also a local chap called Mr Turner who would also carry your picnic hamper up to the summit. Please tell me his official job title was Hamper Humper!

Naming Of The Tower

There were rumblings about renaming the tower to Grinlow Tower, but the locals must have kicked up a fuss as as Solomon's Temple is what has stuck.

TLC And Modern Day

After 100 years of wind, rain, frost, and some freezing conditions had taken their toll some of the stonework had begun to loosen, crack and erode.

Just like its Victorian rebuild, the second restoration in 1988 was paid for by public subscription, with locals once again having to put their hand in their pocket to keep it standing. Buxton resident Tim Brooke-Taylor (best known for The Goodies) helped support and promote the fundraising.

Obviously this round of work was a conservation repair rather than a rebuild, focusing on stabilising the stonework and weatherproofing the structure without altering its original Victorian form.

Looking inside I found a CPRE Merit Award plaque marking the restoration.

There is also a metal spiral staircase inside allowing to enjoy the viewpoints from the top of the tower. On clear days visibility extends over 15 miles allowing you to see Kinder Scout, Mam Tor, Axe Edge, Combs Moss and the Devonshire Dome.

Grin low was also a major limestone quarrying area and you may also spy the nearby 'pudding pie' lime kilns from the summit.

Buxton is a beautiful little spa town and Solomon's Temple is an essential place to visit, offering mega views over the town and the surrounding Peak District.

And if you're wondering, yes we found the King Of The Slugs!!