A Historic Market Town in Great Britain

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A Historic Market Town in Great Britain - By: Douglas Scott, Posted on: 2007-10-29

Chesterfield is a historic market town. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Chesterfield is Derbyshire's second largest town. In the early 20th century Chesterfield at last became industrialised. A heavy engineering industry grew up and prospered here.

In 1766 the first canal-building boom had started in Chesterfield. Of all the proposed cargoes coal was considered the most important because the fledgling Canal Company aimed to undersell the rival south Yorkshire coal fields. The most famous item carried was stone to rebuild the Houses of Parliament in the 1840s

Chesterfield Market with more than 250 stalls crowds into the town centre every Monday, Friday and Saturday. The open air market has been going since at least 1165. It celebrated the 800th anniversary of its official foundation in 2004.

The Pavements Centre offers twenty-first century shopping behind a disguise of historic buildings. Vicar Lane was redeveloped in 2000 to become a pedestrianised, open-air shopping area. The near by narrow cobbled streets of The Shambles have pavement cafes and hosts of ancient shops, and the half-timbered Elizabethan, Royal Oak, the oldest inn in town.

Bolsover Castle is a romantic residence built by Sir Charles Cavendish in 1612 and completed by his son William. There is out standing craftsmanship every where the rich panelling, elaborate fire places and painted ceilings. It has a glorious enclosed garden, step into the magnificent indoor riding school and be enlightened by the audio-tour and the interactive model of the castle.

St Mary and All Saints, the Crooked Spire Church is a famous landmark, and has stood in the centre of Chesterfield for more than 700 years. The spire is not only twisted but it also leans to the south. It is possible to see the spire from any where in Chesterfield. It was straight for several centuries before it began to twist, probably as a result of unseasoned timber being used for its construction. The Spire stands 228 feet from the ground and leans 9 feet 5 inches from its true centre.

George Stephenson is buried at the Holy Trinity church on Newbold Road. He died, aged 67, on 12 August 1848 at Tapton House in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. He was buried at Holy Trinity Church, Chesterfield, along side his second wife. A bronze statue of Stephenson was unveiled at Chesterfield railway station on 28 October 2005, which is over looked by Tapton House, where Stephenson spent the last ten years of his life.

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Douglas Scott writes for The Car Hire Specialist. and is a free lance writer for The Chesterfield Rental Site