Visiting

Rare 17th century tapestries on display at Chatsworth

29th March 2016

Two extremely rare and important 17th century English tapestries have gone back on display at Chatsworth following an intensive two-year conservation programme.

The important Mortlake Tapestries from the 1630s represent the birth of the English tapestry industry and are based on Renaissance painter Raphael’s cartoons of Acts of the Apostles.

It is believed that Chatsworth’s tapestries were acquired from the Mortlake workshops by the 3rd Earl of Devonshire (1617-1684) and moved into the State Drawing Room by the 5th Duke (1748-1811).

As well as the panel depicting ‘Healing of the Lame Man’, another section was found folded back behind the seam of the tapestry when the lining was removed. The rehang will see the ‘Sacrifice at Lystra’ reunited with ‘Healing of the Lame Man’ covering more than 50 sq metres of the back wall in the State Drawing Room.

The further missing half of ‘Healing of the Lame Man’ will also be brought out of storage. This had been conserved previously and hasn’t been seen for a number of years. It will provide a wonderful opportunity to see the tapestries in full. After this season, this third piece will go back into storage for its long-term preservation.

Susie Stoke, Head of textiles, Chatsworth, said: “It’s extremely exciting to be able to reunite these hugely important and beautiful tapestries and put them back on display. For the first time, visitors will have the opportunity to see the tapestries up closely to fully appreciate these beautiful works of art.”

The tapestries were both in urgent need of conservation due to exposure to atmospheric pollution in the 19th and 20th centuries. They were given extensive treatment by Shephard Travis conservation, which included washing to remove acidic pollutants, repairing the fabric, and adding a support cloth for extra strength.

The rehanging of the tapestries is a challenging manual process that takes several hours, and is carried out by Chatsworth’s in-house Textile team who have conservation training or experience.

The rare 17th century English tapestries will remain on display at Chatsworth until January 3rd 2017.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Major funding boost for historic railway site Barrow Hill Roundhouse

29th March 2016

Britain’s only surviving operational railway roundhouse is set to receive a £1.17m cash boost to help safeguard its future as one of Chesterfield’s top attractions.

The funding, confirmed by Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), will be used to repair and refurbish Barrow Hill Roundhouse in Chesterfield, Derbyshire and transform it into a nationally-important museum.

High quality visitor facilities, a dedicated learning and meeting space and a conservation workshop will all be created at the site, which will also enjoy a new entrance, shop and café. A wide range of learning, training and skills activities will accompany these developments, ensuring that the roundhouse can attract a much wider and more diverse audience.

Mike Kennedy, chair of Barrow Hill Engine Shed Society, said: “We are delighted by the news of our success. The project will enable us to safeguard the roundhouse for future generations, and provide the improved facilities that we need to attract a new audience, while retaining our existing audience of rail enthusiasts.

“It will also provide us with the expertise and equipment to tell the story of the roundhouse and its workforce to a wide range of people, particularly local people including families and schoolchildren.”

Barrow Hill Roundhouse was built in 1870 for the Midland Railway and houses an operational turntable serving 24 radiating roads or tracks. It was used to repair and maintain engines and rolling stock for the Staveley Iron and Coal Company.

As one of the few roundhouses to survive the transition from steam to diesel engines, it operated until the industry went into decline during the 1970s and 80s.

In 1991 it was saved from demolition by local campaigners with just 48 hours to spare and has since become a popular place to visit, primarily for railway enthusiasts. Visitors can currently see a host of rare locomotives and over 4,500 items including tools, lamps, uniforms and photographs.

Now the Engine Shed Society wants to attract local people as well, many of whom are unaware of what is on their doorstep and its history.

The main building also requires urgent attention to make it watertight and prevent the collections from getting damaged. There is also a pressing need to record the memories of people who worked at the site, many of whom are now elderly.

Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands, said: “As the last surviving operational roundhouse, Barrow Hill has a unique role in telling the story of the UK’s evocative transport heritage.

“There’s no better way to learn about this history than getting up close to the buildings that survive from that time, so we’re delighted that thanks to National Lottery players we can support this much-needed project to repair the building and enhance visitors’ understanding and enjoyment of the site.”

HLF previously provided a £96,400 development grant in 2014 to work up plans for the project. Now, following a further application, the full grant has been awarded allowing the major works to commence.

It is hoped that work will start at Barrow Hill Roundhouse in June this year and be complete by mid 2019.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Successful Opening for new Designer Menswear Store

24th March 2016

Local lads from Chesterfield have secured a place in UK fashion history this month when they opened their new designer store doors last weekend on Chesterfields high street, becoming the only stockist outside of London to sell famous fashion designer Joshua Kane tailoring.

The Chesterfield-born brothers, George and Joe Ward, have been rubbing shoulders with some of the most famous fashion brands to secure this exclusive contract, as well as several other fashion designers including Hackett, 7 for all Mankind and local clothing manufacturers Smedley’s, who will be providing their excellent range of casual t-shirts, cardigans and jumpers – all made just down the road.

“Our little medieval town has a lot going for it, from our famous spire attracting tourists to our booming nightlife and shopping – being ‘born and bred’ here, there was no better location for our new store than the town centre. We named the store ‘Weekend Menswear’, after all it has everything a guy needs, ready for the weekend or night on the town” says George.

“Our opening last weekend was a fantastic success, we met hundreds of local people and some even travelling from further afield to come celebrate with us and take a look at our ranges; we were surprised how much we sold just on opening weekend – this clearly shows a desire for men of Chesterfield and surrounding areas to look good, which reiterates we’ve pitched the business at the right point and market”

London is well renowned as the most fashionable city in the world – yet, with the launch of Weekend Menswear in Chesterfield, that title could be up for the taking…

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Leisure, Visiting

Chatsworth opens for exciting new season

23rd March 2016

Chatsworth House, Garden and Farmyard has opened for Easter ready for another great year of events with plenty of entertainment for all the family to enjoy from The Dodson & Horrell International Horse Trials to the Chatsworth Country Fair.

Exhibitions this season include the ‘bringing home’ of Dan Pearson’s award winning Chelsea Flower Show garden and a fascinating glimpse into the glittering social circle of Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire through a rare collection of photos by Cecil Beaton.

Chatsworth will celebrate the Grand Tour through the eyes and collection of the Devonshire Family with an exhibition including an evocative collection of drawings by Sebastian Vrancx, previously unseen at Chatsworth, as well as the final phase of Chatsworth’s momentous £32.7million Masterplan restoration project.

The Duke of Devonshire said: “2016 is set to be another remarkable year at Chatsworth, with exciting developments across the house and garden to enjoy. We’re delighted to present the rejuvenated Trout stream where features from the award winning RHS Chelsea Laurent-Perrier Chatsworth garden have been installed and planted under the direction of Dan Pearson.

“Whether it’s to admire the splendour of the house, explore the garden, meet the animals in the farmyard, enjoy afternoon tea and shopping in the stables, we always look forward to welcoming visitors for the new season.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Welcome Jeff Stelling to the Proact

22nd March 2016

The latest international to be staged at the Proact Stadium takes place when England U17s face their Turkish counterparts on Thursday evening.

Fans are encouraged to welcome Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling, who will be arriving at the Proact at around 5pm as part of his charity walk. Jeff, who hosts Soccer Saturday, is walking from Hartlepool United to Wembley Stadium in aid of Prostate Cancer UK.

Spireites representatives Chris Turner, Kevin Fitzgerald, Bob Newton and Nick Johnson will join Jeff on the walk from Rotherham United’s New York Stadium to the Proact via Hillsborough and Bramall Lane. Jeff will be interviewed by Nick at pitch-side before kick-off.

Admission to the game, which kicks off at 7pm, costs just £3 for adults and £1.50 for concessions. Tickets can be purchased by phoning 01246 269300, emailing tickets@chesterfield-fc.co.uk, or calling in at the ticket office at the Proact. They will also be available on the night.

More information about the England U17s v Turkey U17s match can be found here.

To make a donation to the fundraising effort, please visit www.justgiving.com/Chesterfield-FC

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

New parking rate to attract shoppers to Chesterfield

18th March 2016

Shoppers will be able to park at a reduced rate of £3 for three hours – equivalent to £1 an hour – in all Chesterfield Borough Council-run car parks from 1 April.

The rate is part of a move to standardise charges across different car parks with the aim of attracting drivers to stay in the town for longer to go shopping or do business.

It previously cost between £3.30 and £3.90 to park for three hours, depending on the car park used. Most car parks will also see reductions in the cost of parking for four hours with a new standard rate of £4.30 replacing charges that varied between £4.30 and £5.20.

Parking for up to two hours will remain the same in the most popular car parks – Soresby Street, Rose Hill and Holywell Cross – but increase in others to a consistent rate across the town.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centre and visitor economy, said:

“Shoppers have told us that they want to spend longer in town at a reasonable rate and the introduction of the new £3 for three hours rate in all council run car parks enables us to deliver that.

“In addition we offer a range of permits that enable commuters or daily shoppers to park for less. Depending on the permit chosen these can work out at an average of £2.30 for a whole day’s parking.

“In the past we had different charges for car parks depending on how far away from the town centre they were. To simplify things for customers we have now designated car parks as either short stay or long stay and standardised charges across them.

“This is on top of the residents’ free parking scheme that lets people who live in the borough of Chesterfield to park without charge before 10am or after 3pm Mondays to Saturdays and all day on Sundays and bank holidays at the car parks named on the back of their free parking permit.”

From 1 April all Chesterfield Borough Council-run car parks will charge:

• 70p – for up to 30 minutes
• £1.30 – for up to an hour
• £2.60 – for up to two hours
• £3 – for up to three hours
• £4.30 – for up to four hours

Above four hours it will cost a flat rate of £5 in long stay car parks and an extra £1.30 per hour in short stay car parks.
The following car parks will be short stay car parks: Holywell Cross, Rose Hill, Soresby Street, and St Mary’s Gate.

Long stay car parks will be: Albion Road, Derbyshire Times, Devonshire Street, Durrant Road, Hollis Lane, New Beetwell Street multi-storey car park, Saltergate multi-storey car park, Spa Lane, Station Road, Queen’s Park Annexe, Queen’s Park North, Queen’s Park South, Theatre Lane and West Street.

The price of parking permits have also been standardised across council long stay car parks, except for multi-storey car parks.

They are now:
• £60 a month – which works out at approximately £2.50 a day if used 25 times in a month or
• £600 a year – which works out at approximately £2.30 a day if used on weekdays throughout the year.

Scratch card prices have also been standardised. They can be bought in blocks of five and cost a flat rate of £3.50 a day in all long stay car parks, except for multi-storey car parks, which require a separate pass.

Anyone wanting to buy a parking permit or scratch card can ring 01246 345593 or email parking.services@chesterfield.gov.uk Scratch cards are also available from the Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre in Rykneld Square.

Chesterfield Borough Council is not responsible for running all car park areas in the town. Some car parks are privately owned, while on-street car parking charges are set by Derbyshire County Council. These organisations set the charges for these parking areas.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Campaign launched to attract more visitors to Peak District & Derbyshire

16th March 2016

Young, hard-working professionals are being encouraged to escape to the beautiful Peak District to recharge their batteries and experience new adventures in a new campaign launched by Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire.

‘The Land to Forget Time’ was revealed to unsuspecting shoppers at Birmingham’s Bullring on Saturday as a young, innocent bystander hit a flashing escape button before entering an Escape Pod and, just minutes later, re-appeared carrying a mountain bike over his shoulder looking blown away by a recent adrenaline-fuelled experience of bombing down some of the best mountain biking trails in the country. The audience watched in awe as TV and video screens suddenly flashed on, revealing a short captured moment of a mountain biking experience viewed from the riders’ handle bars!

This was just one of three fun social media flash events designed to gather audiences, connecting them together and encouraging them to participate by sharing the experience with others through social media.

The pace slowed down on Sunday when the adrenaline-charged Escape Pod was re-introduced as the ‘Recharge Pod’. Shoppers were invited to inhale the fresh air offered by the Peak District and Derbyshire and even getting a taste of it from the oxygen bar, whilst enjoying a complimentary head and shoulder massage, before being handed a goody bag full of exclusive offers and a few extra surprises.

Following on from this event, both Manchester and Birmingham commuters will be wowed by billboards and mega bus rears portraying some of the iconic attractions and things to do in the Peak District and Derbyshire. Online and printed coverage delivered by the Guardian and a well-planned social media strategy will make sure this campaign drives up a successful return on investment.

“This campaign is very exciting and has really captured the imagination of our partners with many helping to fund it. We have every confidence this campaign will capture the imagination of our target audience, and successfully influence their ideas for a short break. We want to encourage people to help us breathe real life into the campaign by taking their own short videos and GoPro films that capture ‘moments’ in time”, said Jo Dilley, Managing Director, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire.

“Historically the area has always performed well in attracting families and over 50s – but this campaign has been carefully crafted to widen that reach by appealing to a young ‘hip’ urban audience, the results being twofold with the campaign attracting new additional visitors, increasing spend and boosting both the local and regional economy.”

‘The Land to Forget Time’ graphic is based on a photograph taken by Dronfield-based Mark Henson, one of Experience Peak District & Derbyshire’s Destination Partner Photographers.

To have your opportunity to get involved with this campaign simply take your own short video or GoPro film of your ‘moment’ in the Peak District and Derbyshire and upload it at www.thelandtoforgettime.co.uk for the chance to win a prize worth in excess of £2,000!

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Fun and games at Chatsworth this Easter

15th March 2016

Huge Easter egg hunts, Eggspress Trailer rides, and hands-on spring activities are just some of the treats in store for those who visit Chatsworth this Easter as the estate opens up this weekend for the new season.

Spread across the house, garden and farmyard, there’s something for visitors of all ages to enjoy. Golden egg hunts take place in the garden every day during the school holidays and there will be animal sessions in the farmyard where visitors can see new-born lambs and chicks, and there’s a chance to get involved in the guinea pig village during animal handling sessions.

Visitors can take a ride on the Easter Eggspress trailer ride through the park to try and spot the Easter bunny every day of the Easter weekend (25 – 28 March). Other activities on offer include face painting, which will take place at Flora’s temple, with entertainment coming from a vintage barrel organ.

There will also be a new outdoor family event on 31 March. Families will need to use teamwork and imagination to build a den using natural materials found in Stand wood. Children will also build a bug hotel to take home for the garden. The Family wildtime event takes place at the Stickyard outdoor education centre. Tickets are £14 per child and £15 per adult and include admission to the garden on the day.

Chatsworth re-opens after the winter break for the new 2016 season on 19 March 2016.

For more ideas for the Easter holidays click here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

New Designer Store to Open In Chesterfield

15th March 2016

Local lads from Chesterfield have secured a place in UK fashion history this month, as they launch a unique men’s designer shop in Chesterfield town centre – securing an exclusive stockist, the only store outside of London.

The Chesterfield-born brothers, George and Joe Ward, have always had a passion for business, having worked for their dad’s retail company since childhood. George studied business at local Chesterfield College and both have always had a passion for fashion, so when the opportunity arose they jumped at the opportunity to start their own venture.

The boys’ local work ethic has secured them some of the UK’s most recognised fashion designer contracts, with none other than upcoming tailored suit designer, Joshua Kane.

Joshua Kane is well-known throughout Europe for his unique tailored styles, famously popular within sportsmen such as footballers and fashion conscious celebrities, with the likes of Dougie Poynter, model Oxford Neilsen and Portuguese football pro Raul Meireles. Shoppers have known to travel as far as Paris and Spain to his London store to shop!

Other stockists include Hackett, 7 for all Mankind and local clothing manufacturers Smedley’s, who will be providing their excellent range of casual t-shirts, cardigans and jumpers – all made just down the road.

The shop, appropriately named ‘Weekend Menswear’ after all it has everything a guy can need ready for the weekend – will open on the 18^th March with a fun-packed weekend launch – at Stephenson Place, Town Centre in Chesterfield. To celebrate the opening, Weekend Menswear are offering 10% discount off all casual wear over the opening weekend.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Visiting

Play on the Proact pitch

11th March 2016

Businesses, local football clubs and individuals are being given the opportunity to play on the pitch at Chesterfield Football Club.

The Spireites are now taking bookings to give fans the chance to experience what it’s like to be a professional footballer.

From corporate events and inter-company matches with colleagues, to charity events, or even a game between friends who fancy an upgrade on a public park, the Proact Stadium will be available on the following dates:

May 17 – 7pm kick-off
May 18 – 7pm kick-off
May 19 – 7pm kick-off
May 24 – 7pm kick-off

One of the first businesses to take part will be the Proact themselves, based in Chesterfield, following their participation last year.

Each organisation that books will get the chance of a 90-minute, 11-a-side game, including full use of the stadium’s playing facilities, from the dressing room to the players’ tunnel.

A match co-ordinator and referee will be provided by the club and entry to the Proact Stadium will be free for spectators, with each business that signs up given two complimentary footballs to use during the game – and keep as a souvenir.

The cost to ‘Play at the Proact’ is just £1,750 per time slot. Playing slots are limited and will be awarded on a first come, first served basis, with a maximum of 16 players per squad, and a non-refundable deposit of £300 is required to confirm the booking. The full balance is due 30 days before the game.

To book, please contact Janice Kew on 01246 269300 (ext 4153) or email janicekew@chesterfield-fc.co.uk.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Harry Ramsden’s comes to Chesterfield

11th March 2016

World-famous fish and chip restaurant, Harry Ramsden’s is preparing to open in a Chesterfield pub next week.

Making an entrance into the licensed trade sector, the iconic British brand will launch at the Wingerworth on Derby Road on Tuesday 15 March.

Harry Ramsden’s at the Wingerworth will feature an updated interior design popular with families, at the same time as retaining the pub’s local identity and remaining true to its own heritage.

Joe Teixeira, CEO of Harry Ramsden’s comments:-

“We relish this opportunity to enter into a new market and the great location, surroundings and reputation enjoyed by the Wingerworth Pub and Kitchen make Chesterfield the ideal place from which to unveil our newest model and further extend the modern day face of Harry’s to a new generation of customers.”

This latest opening comes as a result of its partnership with Punch Taverns and the Harry Ramsden’s team will manage of all aspects of the outlet’s day to day operation serving breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Leisure, Visiting