Big march to take place in town for Battle of Chesterfield celebrations

Twenty-five so-called ‘guilds’ – including schools, charities, clubs, businesses and community groups – will march into New Market Square as part of a large medieval-style event on the day of the anniversary, Sunday, May 15.

The Chesterfield 750 group, which is organising the event, is now appealing for 25 more ‘guilds’ to come forward.

Their planned march into town is based around the story that, amid the fighting, men of Brampton rushed to the Crooked Spire to defend a wall in the churchyard they had made.

Colin Harrison, of the Chesterfield 750 group, said: “Guilds will be encouraged to march into New Market Square on the day of the anniversary behind their banner and will be provided with a stand where they can display it and talk to people about who they are and what they do.

“Any group of any sort can form a guild by signing up on the website – www.chesterfield750.co.uk. There’s no cost or obligation – although obviously we’d like to see as many as possible on the day itself.”

The Battle of Chesterfield, which took place in and around the town on May 15, 1266, involved baronial and royalist forces.

Historical literature states that the baronial leaders – including Baldwin Wake, the Lord of Chesterfield, and Robert Ferrers, the Earl of Derby – clashed with royalist forces led by Henry of Almain, nephew to Henry III.

The royalists used wagons to gain entry to the town.

A bloody battle ensued and the royalist forces eventually won.

Wake escaped the fighting and joined other disinherited barons at the Isle of Axholme.

Ferrers was captured, taken ‘in irons’ to London and ‘totally disinherited’ later that year.