Chesterfield is located at the confluence of the rivers Rother & Hipper and the largest town in Derbyshire
In 1204 King John granted Chesterfield a charter allowing the town to hold a market. The market is still held at weekends. A charter of incorporation was granted in 1594 by Queen Elizabeth I, which sanctioned the town to be governed by a mayor
The medieval layout of the town centre remains including brick lined narrow medieval alleyways known as the 'Shambles'
The Church of Saint Mary and All Saints was built in the fourteenth century. Its spire was added in 1362 and has subsequently twisted and moved away from the vertical, possibly due to the affects of the sun heating and contorting the wood on the southern side of the spire
George Stephenson lived locally and in 1837 built the Derby to Leeds Railway, which took over from the Chesterfiled Canal as the primary means of communication. Coal was found during construction and coal mining became a major industry of the town along with the mining of ironstone