Our History

The Chateau & Wye House is a complex of modern serviced apartments which were built in the grounds of Corbar Hill House, located on the site of the former greenhouses, nurseries and botanical gardens, in a fabulous arboreal setting surrounded by mature trees and a rich assortment of shrubs and plants with an avenue of topiary trees.

Corbar Hill House was constructed around 1840 at the height of Buxton’s development as a spa town and at a time when it was fashionable to build palatial residences as a sign of wealth and importance. With the concept that the higher up the hill the grander the house, it is not surprising to find Corbar Hill House almost at the top!

Corbar Road was developed as part of Joseph Paxton’s famous Buxton Park with the villa houses on the north side of the road being the most prestigious and well positioned having south facing elevations.

Appearing like a French chateau on a sylvan slope, Corbar Hill House is an architectural gem of perfect symmetry with a selection of classical sash as well as oval windows which have been copied over into the new buildings of Wye House to continue the theme. Several of the finest Victorian buildings in Buxton share similar architectural features and it is fascinating to look across the town to see a selection of domes, turrets, pinnacles, ornate gables and flamboyant finials.

It is believed that the construction of Corbar Hill House was financed by the then Duke of Devonshire, and there is an interesting crest to be found carved in stone above the main door.

Old plans reveal a 6ft beech hedge ran between Corbar Hill House and its kitchen gardens. Over a century later and the hedge may have disappeared but it is still possible to trace its origin in a line of majestic beech trees now reaching some 60-80 feet high. To the rear of the house is an ancient monkey puzzle tree said to be 150 years old that was brought over from Chile by boat as a tiny sapling.

Originally built as a private residence, Corbar Hill House remained a private residence for almost a century until it was used for a time as a Special School. Around 1901 it is thought that Corbar Hill House was renamed Wye House, not to be confused with Wye House Asylum which was a Buxton establishment for the care and treatment of the insane of the higher and middle classes!

Now listed Grade II, Corbar Hill House has been sympathetically restored and brought back to life with careful consideration to detail and using quality materials which are locally sourced as much as possible. Corbar Hill House has been fitted with super insulation, low energy fitments and under floor heating to make it as environmentally friendly and energy efficient as it is possible to be.

Taking advice and guidance from conservationists and planners, Corbar Hill House was restored to such a high standard that it is above and beyond any normal renovation project. Several of Buxton’s large 19^th century buildings have disappeared through demolition and some are currently under threat due to lack of general maintenance, dry rot infestation, damp and decay, but Corbar Hill House is a survivor having been rescued from the brink of oblivion and is now facing a much happier long-term future.