Chesterfield

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CHESTERFIELD - Description from Pigot's 1835 Directory

CHESTERFIELD is an ancient corporate and market-town, and parish, in the hundred of Scarsdale, 150 miles from London, 48 S.E. from Manchester, 24 N. from Derby, the like distance E. from Buxton, 12 E. from Bakewell, the like distance S. from Sheffield, and 8 N. by E. from Matlock. It is a large but irregularly built town, pleasantly situate between two rivulets, the Hyper and Rother, in the beautiful and fertile vale of Scarsdale, and is the second considerable town in the county of Derby. The Saxon appellation of Ceaster proves it to have been a place of great antiquity and considerable importance, and it is imagined to have originated from a Roman station.

At the time of the Norman survey, it was called Cestrefield, & was then only a bailiwick to Newbold - the latter now but a small hamlet in the parish: subsequently it advanced to considerable importance, and King John conferred upon it a charter of incorporation with the privilege of two markets and a fair. The charter was ratified by succeeding monarchs; enlarged by Queen Elizabeth, and confirmed by Charles II; it confides the government of the town to a mayor, six aldermen, six brethren, and twelve capital burgesses, assisted by a chamberlain, town clerk, and other officers: the mayor and the preceding one are justices of the peace.

The lord of the manor holds a court-leet in October, when a constable is chosen; and a court of record, for the recovery of debts not exceeding £20. The petty sessions for the division are held here in the town-hall, on the ground floor of which is a prison for debtors, and a residence for the gaoler. Chesterfield is one of the stations appointed under the new Boundary Act for receiving votes at the election of knights of the shire, to represent the northern division of the county.

The trades which contribute to the prosperity of the town are various, comprising the manufacture of hosiery, lace, and flax-dressing; in the immediate neighbourhood are malt-houses, besides some large iron foundries, tanneries, roperies, and brown-ware potteries; and the making of waggoners' frocks is carried on here, to a very great extent. Mines of coal, lead and iron are worked in the vicinity of Chesterfield; and a canal passes near to the town, which falls into the Trent at Stockwith, near Gainsborough.

The church, a large handsome structure, in the form of a cross, and dedicated to All Saints, has been built at various times, parts of it being very ancient. It appears there was a church here in the 11th century, as William II. gave the church of Chesterfield to the cathedral of Lincoln. The spire of the present edifice, which rises to the height of 230 feet, is covered with lead: its extraordinary appearance surprises every beholder - for, it not only appears to be twisted, but also to incline considerably from the perpendicular. The interior of the church is of an imposing character: the east window of the chancel is a fine composition; there are some very antique monuments, both in the nave and the chancel, and in the south transept are a beautiful screen and rood-loft. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Derby, and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, and in the patronage of the dean of Lincoln; the present incumbent is the Rev. Thomas Hill. The other places of worship are for baptists, Wesleyan and primitive methodists, independents, Sandemanians, unitarians, and the society of friends.

The free grammar school was founded in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and was formerly one of the largest in the north of England; the present building was erected in the year 1710, on the site where the original formerly stood. There are also national, infant and Sunday schools, and one of industry for girls. Several alms-houses have been endowed, in different parts of the town; and the other institutions comprise a dispensary, savings' bank, bible, tract and missionary societies, and a mechanics' institute. An elegant assembly-room was built some years ago, for the amusement of the more respectable inhabitants; and races are held annually in the autumn. The weekly market, which is on Saturday, is well supplied with corn, cattle, cheese and other necessaries. Fairs are held on the 27th January, 28th February, the first Saturday in April, 4th May, 4th July, 25th September, and 28th November.

In 1821 the entire parish of Chesterfield contained 9,190 inhabitants, and in 1831. 10,688, of which last number 5,775 were returned for the town.

[Description from Pigot and Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835
Transcribed by Rosemary Lockie ©1999]

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