High Peak College
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High Peak College or University of Derby College as its otherwise known, lyes deep in the Buxton countryside. When it was constucted is anyones guess as so far no evidence has surfaced to confirm its age, although judging by the design of some of the buildings it doesnt appear that old?
Originally the college specialized in catering this I do know for a fact as I know people who actually studied here. The college also had a mechanics workshop. A hair salon and video department and covered the usual courses including IT. Until all of its facilities where transferred to the new college.
The college from what we can gather closed around late 2005 to early 2006 and was more than likely down to its dating facilities and location rather than anything else.
The curious thing is though is how they left the place. Usually when colleges or even schools are closed. The local Council or who ever the sites belong too, ensure that all equipment is removed prior to the site being vacated.
This however isnt the case with High Peak! As we discovered when we explored the college two years after it closed.
We first discovered the place in late 2007 when a few of us where in the area exploring other sites. Our first visit didnt prove entirely successful though and so a return trip was planned a few months down the line.
Fast forward to summer 2008 and a few of us found ourselves in Buxton onceagain. The place still looked the same but unfortunatley security had now been placed at the college, making exploring impossible.
Again we decided to leave it alone until passing through in September, when to our surprise security had left and the place was wide open.
Well not ones to waste and opportunity we ventured inside to see what sort of condition the place was in. To our surprise it was filled with all sorts of interesting items.
The most bizarre find we stumbled across had to be the video and photography department. Video cameras had been left on the floor still in there cases. Mixing equipment strewn across the room, we even found reel to reel tape machines.
Its ironic to think that local authorities often complain their education budgets are insufficient yet at the same time they can afford to leave thousands of pounds worth of equipment lying discarded in derelict buildings?
