Urban district of Derbyshire (12 miles south of Sheffield).
PLACES OF INTEREST: 1.Chesterfield Parish Church, St Mary and All Saints (commonly known as the Crooked Spire, with beautiful views from the tower). Built between 1234 and 1400 ad, it is recommended in the Chesterfield Town Trail that the tour of this beautiful awe-inspiring building be taken alongside reading the Official Guide Book. Free entry to the Church, small charge (about £2.50 (adults), £1 (children) to go up the 228 ft tower, which leans 9ft from its true centre. Tower open every Bank Holiday Monday and at advertised times - look for a sign outside or ask at Tourist Information. Guided tours available.
2. Every August Bank Holiday, there is a firework display at the Queens Park Annexe on Boythorpe Road, from about 7pm with entertainment provided by the local radio station Peak 107FM.
3. Medieval Market, every year on the last Tuesday of July, with street entertainers, many in fancy dress costume. There are also charity stalls and a fun fair on the main Market Place. There are medieval jugglers, you can try medieval food, see morris dancing, medieval battles in the New Market (near Dents and the Portland Hotel) - it is a fun day out for all involved.
The stall holders in fancy dress are judged and the winners (first, second and third) receive a cash prize. There are often pedlars and gamekeepers to show how life was like in medieval times - very interesting.
4. Chesterfield Museum, St Mary’s Gate, in the old Stephenson Memorial Hall, which also incorporates the Pomegranate Theatre. This was built to commemorate George Stephenson who came to the town in1838 and died here, living at Tapton Hall nearby. More details on 01246 345727. Free entry.
The museum is free to enter and has regular events during the school holidays to bring “history to life” with Roman centurians, Viking soldiers, etc.
The May Bank Holiday weekend is usually a Family History fair, conducted by the Chesterfield and District Family History Society. This can be very fruitful for people who are tracing their roots in the area.
5. The Chesterfield Town Trail (short trail 1 mile round trip; long trail 2 mile trip (round trip with detours), incorporates some of the above, with other items of interest (suggested by the Civic Society), including Archbishop Secker’s House, United Reform Church, Holy Trinity Church (where George Stephenson was buried), Market Place pump (which has recently been repainted and floor lights put round it ) and the Royal Oak in the Shambles (currently closed for refurbishment) - the oldest pub in the town and a great tourist attraction.
6. Chesterfield Canal (built 1777) with Tapton Lock visitors centre, which often has regular events during the school holidays for a small charge including craft workshops. This is currently being refurbished and parts which were blocked off are being brought back into use.
The visitors centre has an exhibition on the history of the canal and at weekends through the summer canal barges provide trips down the re-navigable route (certain bridges have had to be raised to allow the canal to be used).
7. Chesterfield Queen’s Park and Boating Lake, built 1879, by T P Wood (of Almanac fame, according to our Chesterfield Library Local Studies Librarian Geoff Sadler). There is a leisure centre attached to this park, which has an olympic size swimming pool and an athletics annexe. Adverts on Peak 107 for their gym classes state 10 classes pay for 8.
The Queens Park is hopefully going to be given a makeover in the next 12-18months and the Chesterfield and Family History society were asked by the "Friends of Queens Park" to provide their favourite memories of the park for a commemorative booklet to be published in the next few months.
8. Revolution House, Whittington Moor, nr Chesterfield (formerly the Cock and Pynott Inn) where the Earl of Devonshire plotted to rid the country of James I and put William (of Orange) and Mary on the throne (and succeeded!). He became the Duke of Devonshire and the rest is History!. Free entry. Coach parties should be aware that it is a small building not built to cope with large numbers and only 7 people can view the very interesting video at a time.
Prices can be verified from the Chesterfield Tourist Information Centre, Church Way, Chesterfield or via Derbyshire County Council (Tel 01629 580000)
This year in September there will be a special market to commemorate the date Chesterfield received its licence to hold a Market from the King. It is hoped that this will be an annual event for a whole week, but this has not yet been confirmed.
There are occasionally European markets held at the Vicar Lane shopping area and the 2 markets. I visited a French one last year and there were stalls selling wine, honey, french pastries, home made household goods such as coir mats, etc. It was very interesting.
There is a market every Monday, Friday and Saturday with a flea/antiques market every Thursday.
There is a large library at Chesterfield (on three floors) with a reasonably priced cafe which has just been refurbished. I use this for my family history research locally and there are free internet facilities for Derbyshire residents who have a library card.
It is the 2nd most used library in the country according to surveys. You can also borrow CDs, DVDs and videos. There is a toy library for children too. I have seen recently that they have introduced a loan system for a marker pen/labels to protect your property from thieves. A very good idea.
The Market Hall has indoor stalls which are very reasonablly priced and there is a good cafe in there too.
The Vicar Lane shopping arcade (not under cover) has plenty of shops, including Woolworths, Argos, BHS, Ann Summers, Superdrug, Pizza Hutt, Wilkinsons, book stores, Peacocks and on special occasions there can be morris dancers or other attraction in the small square near Woolworths/BHS. A multi storey car park accessible from New Beetwell Street (opposite the Chesterfield Police HQ).
There is also the Pavements arcade (under cover), which has other shops including WH Smith, Jonathan James, a good cappuccino shop, good toilet facilities, Dewhurst butchers and a multi storey car park attached (accessible from Park Road off New Beetwell Street).
My favourite pubs are (in no particular order): The Rutland (near the Crooked Spire and cemetery), The Portland Hotel (great beer garden but no car park), Spa Lane Vaults (on the corner of Spa Lane and St Marysgate, in the shadow of the Crooked Spire), The Barley Mow, The Market (on the little market place and The Royal Oak in the Shambles (near the Body Shop). Just a shame I am always driving as I never get to drink!! Well I do have soft drinks, but it is never the same!!
Other local attractions: Cromford – Black Rocks, Cromford canal, Arkwrights Mill/Craft Centre Bakewell – Haddon Hall, Bakewell Agricultural Show in August Baslow – Chatsworth Hall - see my review Matlock – see my review Bonsall - noted for its lead mines and well dressing ceremonies Tansley - noted for its numerous garden centres and Public Houses. Wirksworth –Heritage Centre, Middleton Top Engine House & visitor centre near High Peak trail.
DIRECTIONS: From M1 (jnc 29) choose A617 (towards Chesterfield) at Hornsbridge railway bridge roundabout take the second exit, past MFI, to Markham road island, go straight on (past Kwikfit) and take the next left to get to either of the two multi storey car parks listed above.
Turn left onto Markham Road, if you want the large retail park (Currys, Focus, sports shop, etc).
To get to Queens Park and boating lake and the leisure centre go to the roundabout and take the first left onto Boythorpe Road at the B & Q roundabout.
As I live in North Wingfield and was born in Chesterfield, none of the specific criteria apply to me but I recommend that you visit the area.
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