| Chesterfield started out as a Roman fort and | | | | unluckily, Chesterfield was hit again in 1608. |
| was built approximately 70 AD. The Romans | | | | Chesterfield was slightly oblivious to the industrial |
| probably settled here because the area was | | | | revolution of the 18th Century but slowly |
| extremely rich in natural minerals like tin, lead and | | | | continued to grow with the help of better |
| coal. The Roman fort later was discovered to | | | | communications helped by the building of |
| have also been built on an old iron-age fort. It is | | | | "TurnPike "roads, the chesterfield canal and the |
| believed that by the early 2nd century the | | | | arrival of rail, courtesy of George Stephenson, |
| Romans had no longer a need for the fort and | | | | who lived at Tapton House from 1838 - 1848 and |
| moved on leaving it abandoned. | | | | is now buried in the Holy Trinity Church. |
| The town was later named by the Saxons. Their | | | | In 1892 the boundary of the borough was |
| name for a Roman fort was caester and they | | | | changed and the nearby settlement of Brampton |
| called the wide open fields where cattle grazed a | | | | became part of Chesterfield. This was the first of |
| Feld. So when the Saxons arrived and settled | | | | many changes and a sign that Chesterfield was a |
| they called the area Caester Feld which by the | | | | thriving and growing town. By this time it had its |
| 10th Century was changed to Chesterfield. By | | | | own independent police force and fire brigade. |
| now though, the small settlement had swiftly | | | | Many more changes were soon to come along |
| grown into a thriving village. It took two centuries | | | | starting with the introduction of Electric street |
| for Chesterfield to become a thriving town. A | | | | lights and trams, which were soon ditched, as |
| Charter granted by King John in 1204 gave the | | | | Chesterfield finally caught up with it's neighbouring |
| Lord of The Manor the right to hold regular | | | | towns and joined in with the industrial revolution. |
| markets and even a fair, which lasted for 8 days | | | | The 20th Century had arrived. |
| during September, once a year. | | | | With the introduction of Council houses in the 20's |
| In 2004 Chesterfield's "Open Air Market" | | | | and 30's, the further boundary changes bringing |
| celebrated it's 800th Anniversary of it's official | | | | Hasland and Newbold into the folds of Chesterfield |
| opening. | | | | and the building of the new Town |
| As time went on life was not always perfect in | | | | Hall(1938),Pomegranate Theatre ( 1949) and The |
| Chesterfield. It's main industry in the middle ages | | | | Nth Derbyshire Royal Hospital (1984), Chesterfield |
| was the making of wool although leather was | | | | started to look much the same as it does today. |
| prominent too with plenty of Skinners, Tanners, | | | | To date Chesterfield boasts, as well as it's |
| Glovers and Saddlers. The wool industry thrived | | | | traditional markets, a Shopping centre opened in |
| until the 17th Century before dying out but the | | | | 1981 as well as an even newer Shopping centre |
| leather work continued to prosper until the 18th | | | | opened in 2000 as tourism of the peak district |
| Century. | | | | and the retail industry have taken precedent over |
| None of this was to help with the many diseases | | | | the failing manufacturing industry. |
| that were around though. Leprosy hit the area so | | | | So there you have it a brief history of |
| bad that a Leper hostel dedicated to St Leonard | | | | Chesterfield. |
| had to be built. Then just like everywhere else in | | | | One now wonders what will the current hi tech |
| the sixteenth century the Black Death struck. | | | | world of computers and the internet have in |
| There was a severe outbreak in 1586-1587and | | | | store for this Historic Market Town. |