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