A busy turn out for Chesterfield’s annual celebration of its ‘father of railways’
Visitors were also able to explore the growing George Stephenson interpretation displays and exhibition materials
Scores of visitors attended Newbold Road’s Holy Trinity Church on Saturday as George Stephenson Day 2026 celebrated the life and legacy of the town's most famous engineer at his final resting place.
Visitors travelled from across the region throughout the day to learn more about the ‘father of railways’ and explore Chesterfield's rich railway and industrial heritage.
One of the highlights of the event was the opportunity for visitors to see first-hand the significant progress being made on Holy Trinity’s new visitor facilities, including the kitchen and toilet areas, as the church continues its transformation into a visitor destination celebrating Chesterfield’s railway and industrial heritage.
The improvements form part of a wider initiative supported by a £240,600 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside additional backing from EMR, CrossCountry Rail, the Raymond Ross Fund, Graysons Solicitors and Holy Trinity Church itself.
Visitors were also able to explore the growing George Stephenson interpretation displays and exhibition materials that form part of the church's future role as a heritage destination celebrating Chesterfield's railway and industrial past.
Particular interest was shown in a collection of rare Clay Cross Company artefacts and information, displayed at Holy Trinity for the first time. The materials, donated by a former archivist of the company, helped tell the story of one of Derbyshire's most important industrial enterprises.
Founded by George Stephenson in 1837, the Clay Cross Company became one of the region's defining industrial concerns, producing coal, iron, bricks, pipes and minerals during the height of Britain's industrial expansion.