An 18th century town hall was designed by a Mr. Carr of York and erected in the Market Place in 1790.[2][3] In the second half of 19th century the borough council met in a cramped municipal hall on the corner of Beetwell Street and South Street.[4] Chesterfield Corporation acquired the Stephenson Memorial Hall in 1889 and proceeded to create a more spacious council chamber by converting the lecture hall for use by the councillors in 1905.[5] An inquiry in a serious explosion at Grassmoor Colliery, which led to the deaths of 14 miners, was held in the council chamber in the Stephenson Memorial Hall in December 1933.[6]
A purpose-built facility on Rose Hill, which was designed by Bradshaw Gass & Hope in the Neo-Georgian style and built by Robert Carlyle Co of Manchester, was officially opened by Evelyn Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire on 6 April 1938.[7] The sculptural decoration on the outside of the building was undertaken by Frank Tory and Sons[8] while the interior decoration involved extensive use of walnut panelling and the rooms were given an Egyptian theme to them; the ceilings were richly decorated with lotus flowers.[9]
A war memorial and some urns, terraces and steps which had been designed by Bradshaw Gass & Hope as part of the formal approach to the town hall was unveiled by the Andrew Cavendish, 11th Duke of Devonshire on 8 May 1954.[10] The building, which had served as the meeting place of Borough of Chesterfield continued to be the local seat of government after enlargement of the council's area in 1974.[9]
An extensive refurbishment, at a cost of £2.7 million, was completed in autumn 2018.[11] Through the removal of interior walls, the works created extra space which enabled the Derbyshire Register Office and other public sector organisations to be accommodated in the building.[12][13] Works of art in the town hall include a portrait by Henry William Pickersgill of Richard Arkwright.[14]
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