The Bull's Head, Buxton

The Bull's Head is one of the oldest public houses associated with the former village of Fairfield, now part of Buxton. The earliest documented reference to the inn dates from 1794, although it is thought to have been established even earlier. Located on the road linking Buxton with Tideswell and Bakewell, it originally served travellers, farmers, quarrymen and local residents.

The original Bull's Head stood on or near the site of the present building. As Buxton expanded during the Victorian period and Fairfield's population grew, the old inn became outdated. In 1903, it was demolished and replaced with the substantial three-storey stone building that still stands today. This redevelopment reflected the area's increasing importance and the continuing role of the pub as a focal point for the local community.

During the early twentieth century, the Bull's Head was much more than a public house. It hosted property auctions, agricultural sales, business meetings and social gatherings. Derbyshire Record Office records show that, in 1919, an auction for Low Foot Farm was conducted at the Bull's Head Hotel, illustrating its significance as a local meeting place.

Unlike Buxton's grand coaching inns, which catered largely to visitors to the spa town, the Bull's Head primarily served the people of Fairfield, a community with strong connections to limestone quarrying, lead mining and agriculture. For generations it provided a venue where local residents could meet, celebrate and conduct business.