The indoor market
The Market Hall
Iron, brick, and a clock that still strikes
Chesterfield's historic market has traded on the same square for over eight centuries - come rain or shine!
By the 1850s, traders wanted to sell their wares under cover. Frederick Swanwick — who had spent his working life beside George Stephenson — formed the Chesterfield Market Company. Davies and Tew drew an Italianate building of red brick and stone, a hollow rectangle with a covered court in the middle and a tall clock tower on the east face. It opened in 1857.
It held stalls, shops, offices, a corn exchange, a county court, a post office, a library, rooms for the market keeper, and the Assembly Hall upstairs. It was bought by Chesterfield Corporation in 1875.
Historic England called the whole square one of the most imposing in the East Midlands.
Today, the Market Hall is home to butchers, bakers, country clothing, the Market Café, knitting wool, and other independent shops. The clock still strikes. Walk through it on the way from Basil Close to the Pavements or Vicar Lane.
- Address
- Market Place, Chesterfield S40 1AR
- Open
- Monday to Saturday, 8.30am–5pm. Sunday closed.
- Map
- Google Maps