Fascinating facts about Chesterfield
Wednesday, 7th Aug 2013 13:50 by Tim Whelan

With Chesterfield paying us a visit this evening, it’s time to find out a little bit more about where they are coming from.

The town received its market charter in 1204 from King John and it has one of the largest open air markets in Britain. Around 250 stalls can be found in the town every Monday, Friday and Saturday.

Chesterfield is perhaps best known for the "Crooked Spire" of its Church of Saint Mary and All Saints, which dates back to the 14th century. The spire is both twisted and leaning, twisting 45 degrees and leaning 9 feet 6 inches (2.90 m) from its true centre.

Folklore recounts that a Bolsover blacksmith mis-shod the Devil, who leapt over the spire in pain, knocking it out of shape. Other theories are that it was down to the absence of skilled craftsmen (the Black Death having finished only twelve years prior to the spire's completion), the use of unseasoned timber, and insufficient cross-bracing

But according to the curators of Chesterfield Museum, the bend began when the original wooden roof tiles were replaced by heavier slate and lead. The bend in the spire follows the direction of the sun and has been caused by heat expansion and having to bear a weight for which it was never designed.

George Stephenson moved to Chesterfield, while building the North Midland railway from Derby to Leeds and remained there until his death in 1848. He is interred in Trinity Church and in 2006 a statue was erected outside Chesterfield railway station in his honour.

From 1981 to 2002, 15,000 jobs in the coal industry disappeared around the town and not a single colliery remains open, although open cast mining continued at Arkwright until a few years ago. Very little evidence of the mining industry remains today, but a route for cyclists and walkers, the "Five Pits Trail" now links the sites of some of the former collieries.

It seems that Leeds City was not the only football club to be wound up because of illegal payments to players during the First World War. After Chesterfield Town FC went bust in 1915 new club with the same name was formed by a local restaurateur to play wartime football, using locally-based "guests" from Football League clubs. But it lasted only two years before its management and players were suspended by the FA for illegal payments and the club shut down.

Chesterfield Borough Council formed a new club on 24 April 1919, initially called Chesterfield Municipal F.C., but the FA and Football League were against a council-run club and ultimately forced it to cut its ties and become independent.

So the club became plain Chesterfield F.C. and they were founder members of the Football League Third Division North in 1921—22. They have remained in the Football League ever since that time.and while they have never played in the top flight, they rose to the old second division for two spells in the 1930s.

Their honours include winning the Anglo-Scottish Cup in 1981, including a two leg win over the then-mighty Rangers, and reaching the FA Cup semi-final in 1996—97. They would have become the first team from the third tier to reach the final if it wasn’t for David Elleray failing to allow a goal when the ball had actually crossed the line. So they drew 3-3 with Middlesborough and then lost the replay.

Sinnce the 2010—11 season, Chesterfield have played their home games at the £13 million B2net Stadium.

Chesterfield has a fine tradition of famous goalkeepers either being born in the town or playing for the club, including Gordon Banks, Bob Wilson and our very own John Lukic.

Other famous people born in Chesterfield include Olave Baden-Powell, wife to Robert Baden-Powell and Chief Guide from 1918 until her death in 1977 (and presumably the daughter of parents who couldn’t spell ‘Olive’).

And also Barbara Castle, Labour transport minister who introduced the breathalyser in 1967,
Jo Guest, former Page Three girl, and gormless former Blue Peter presenter Simon Groom, who supported Derby County in a desperate attempt at local glory-hunting.

Photo: Action Images

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