Colin Crosby Heritage Tours

Chesterfield

Chesterfield is a large market town with an industrial background in Derbyshire, 10 miles from Sheffield.

St. Mary and All Saints Church is Chesterfield`s best known landmark. A large and impressive cruciform church dating from the 14th century, it has the famous lead-covered Crooked Spire, which rises to 228 feet.

The Market Place is enormous, and is a serious contender for largest in England. Markets have been held here for 800 years. There is a large and impressive Market Hall.

Chesterfield, where the Romans had a settlement, retains some old street names, including The Shambles, Glumangate and Knifesmithgate.

The delightful timber framed building now serving as Peacock`s coffee house has been a Guildhall, the Peacock Inn and Tourist Information Centre. The latter is now housed in a modern building beside the church.

The Royal Oak in The Shambles is a very old inn, one of those claiming to be the oldest in the country.

George Stephenson spent his last years at nearby Tapton, and was buried at Holy Trinity Church in 1848.

At the Battle of Chesterfield in 1266, during the Barons` Revolt, the Earl of Derby was defeated by the forces of Henry III.

Prominent people born in Chesterfield include Barbara Castle, politician; Francis Frith, photographer; and Peter Wright, author of "Spycatcher".

Tony Benn was formerly M.P. for Chesterfield.

M. D. Osinsky emigrated from Russia to Chesterfield, changed his name to Montague Burton and opened the first of his clothing shops in the town.

Blue Badge Guide Colin Crosby is available to lead Guided Walks around Chesterfield for groups.