Local author uncovers hidden history of Chesterfield town centre in latest book
An author is inviting people to explore some of Chesterfield town centre’s hidden gems in his latest book.
Peter Gray has penned ‘A Walk Around Chesterfield’s Hidden Town Centre,’ working with local publisher, Bannister Publications to release the title.
The book takes the reader through a self-guided walk around the town centre, lasting around three miles, but staying within a third of a mile from Rykneld Square.
40 maps and sketches created by Peter as part of the book provide a fresh perspective on the town centre.
In addition to popular landmarks like The Shambles and The Crooked Spire, the walk highlights a wide range buildings, sculptures, alleyways, snickets, and architectural delights.
The walk featured as part of the 2024 Chesterfield Area Walking Festival, and participants said they’d uncovered something new, even after living in Chesterfield for years.
Peter explains: “My aim was to let people find the nooks and crannies of the town that they may not have visited before and to tell a little about the town’s history.
“I’ve been in Chesterfield for over thirty years and always found it a great place to live, work and raise a family. I was initially inspired by a similar style book about the city of York (The Snickelways of York) and I thought I could do something similar for Chesterfield.
“I’ve found the history of Chesterfield fascinating and in 2016 I was part of the group which put together Chesterfield 750 – a medieval pageant day to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the Battle of Chesterfield. Everyone who has spoken to me about the walk has said that they’ve found out places of information that they were not aware of before.”
Peter will be back in town on November 9th for a Meet the Author event at Waterstones Chesterfield, giving local history lovers the opportunity to speak about the book and Chesterfield’s historic town centre.
People interested in purchasing the book can buy a copy directly from the Bannister Publications website.
Planning a visit to Chesterfield? Make the most of your stay by finding out about local events, activities, places to eat and more at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/
Bannister Publications supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
