Pictures  and  Postcards,  Old  and  New
Town  Hall  &  Memorials

The Town Hall cost £160,000, & was officially opened by the Duchess of Devonshire, Wednesday 6th April 1938. The foundation stone was laid by Harry P. Short, the Mayor of Chesterfield, on 15th April 1936. The architects were Bradshaw, Gass & Hope; with sculpturing done by Frank Tory of Sheffield.

From the Sheffield Independent: "The council chamber is treated in quiet warm grey tones, with a dado of finely figured walnut, upholstered in leather of a brownish grey, with narrow piping lines of red.
Grey green carpet and curtains enrich the colour of the room and enhance the quiet conditions.
Small galleries are provided at each end of the room, one for the public, and one for special visitors. Nearby are retiring rooms for members, a deputation room and members' library.
A suite of five rooms is arranged for committee work on the first floor, and two of them can be opened into one large room for reception purposes."

Below: The Foundation Stone; the construction in progress; the involvement of Italian workers on site.

The sculptures were done by Frank Tory of Sheffield at a total cost of £812 8s. 10d.
This is from Frank Tory's work book:

                                    1938  &  2017 views from above.


c/o http://britainfromabove.org.uk

Postcard of 8th July 1951

Images from the 1970's on the left & 2017 below.


An artists impression of the the town hall area.

With thanks to Michael Groves.




http://michaelgrovesartist.co.uk






Below, 3 modern photos of 2018.
The War Memorial opposite the Town Hall was designed by A. J. Hope, of Bradshaw, Gass and Hope, who were also the architects of the Town Hall. It's a Grade II listed Memorial made of Portland Stone, & was unveiled by the Duke of Devonshire on the 8th May 1954.
On either side of the 'tomb' part of the monument, are the dates of the 2 World Wars, respectively, written in gold & 2 black torches. Two stone urns flank the centre.
On the top of the tomb is an olive branch of peace; & on the front of the tomb, written in gold:
TO  THE  MEMORY  OF
THE  MEN  AND  WOMEN  OF  CHESTERFIELD
WHO   FELL   IN   THE   TWO   WORLD   WARS

They were a wall unto us both by night and day.
                                                                                                                    1 Samuel 25 v16
Down the steps, that are at either side, of the previous memorial, & then towards the 'back' of the tomb, in the center is a memorial to Sir Ernest Shentall, one time Mayor of Chesterfield.
Written into the stone is:
                                                            SIR  ERNEST  SHENTALL  KIIP
MAYOR OF CHESTERFIELD 1913-1919
DIED 25 DECEMBER 1936
End