Chesterfield is situated just 24 miles from Derby to the North where the rivers Rother and its tributary the Hipper meet. The first thing that greets visitors and which stands out as a landmark is the Church with its crooked spire dating back to the 14th century.
Chesterfield is a market town with some striking archaeology. The town still holds a market three days a week ( Mon, Fri and Sat ) and this is one of the largest open air markets in Britain. Until the 1980's coal mining was the main economy of the town. There is virtually no trace of coal mining left and many companies in Chesterfield have either downsized, closed or moved away. The biggest employer in the town is now The Royal Mail with its admin department based here.
Chesterfield is a pleasant enough town to walk through and experience on a weekend but it lacks the investment needed to transform it. With some impressive but neglected Tudor style buildings along its main streets visitors will notice the peeling paint and rotten window frames in many of the buildings. Mainly chain stores and charity shops the town has the infrastructure to be much more and to develop as a tourist attraction.
This historic town is certainly worth a visit and is an ideal stop over or rest stop for anyone visiting the nearby Peak District.
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The town of Staveley in the Borough of Chesterfield is situated on the banks of the River Rother near Eckington and Barlborough. Formerly a mining town with several old and now disused mining pits it is also known for its Staveley Works Foundry and Staveley Chemicals. These days industry has all but dried up and the town is becoming increasingly reliant on tourism and the surrounding districts for its employment and income.
A long term project to open the old Chesterfield Canal from Chesterfield to Kiveton resulted in the opening of Staveley Town Basin in 2012. This provides much needed development in Staveley and will ultimately result in a renovated canalside with moorings and public access for leisure pursuits and events.
Staveley Hall which at the time of writing in 2015 is going through a major refurbishment and renovation. It is an important Grade II listed building which dates back to 1604 when it was owned by the Frecheville family whose records date back to Norman times.
The town of Staveley is compact but well laid out with some pleasant streets and surrounding countryside. The Market Square is host to Staveley Market which is held in
the Market Place on Tuesday and Friday mornings.
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Scarborough on the North Sea Coast of North Yorkshire is a very popular tourist destination during the summer months. With two main beaches, limestone cliffs and a harbour protected by a rocky headland, this is the largest holiday resort on the Yorkshire coast.
The original settlement of Scarborough would have been in medieval times on the South Bay side of the town. This forms the old district and is the main area for tourists. There is a lively atmosphere, a busy beach and a host of fish and chip shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. The 11th century Scarborough Castle looks down on the town from the cliff tops and there is also a more modern shopping precinct behind the main beach area.
The North Bay side of town with its long sandy beach and plenty of parking is much quieter but with fewer amenities. The North side however is home to Peasholm Park which is reputed to be one of the top 5 parks in Europe. North and South Bay are joined together by Marine Drive with its extensive Victorian Promenade.
Anyone walking along the sea front in Scarborough will have noticed the huge building up on the cliffs. The Grand Hotel which was completed in 1867 was one of the largest hotels in the world. It is still very impressive by todays standards. Ann Bronte died here in 1849. She is buried in the graveyard of St Mary's Church near the castle.
Whilst Scarborough still has an active fishing industry it is relatively small and the working harbour now provides fishing and boat trips for the thousands of visitors. The Scarborough fish market sells locally caught seafood.
Scarborough is diverse enough to offer something for everyone. It has museums, cultural heritage and historic buildings. It also has a wealth of entertainment venues and nearby places to visit. Any trip to North Yorkshire would be incomplete without a visit to Scarborough.
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Whitby is a coastal town in North Yorkshire which is situated on the mouth of the River Esk. Any first time visitor to Whitby will instantly recognise that this seaside town has a maritime history. With its impressive harbour walls and inland harbour the town has been an important fishing port for centuries. It is also famous for the fact that Captain Cook learned his seamanship here.
A large swing bridge divides the town and the old town is situated on the Abbey side of the harbour. With its quaint houses of brick and stone and narrow roads, the visitor gets a glimpse of what it might have been like in past years. Whitby today is a tourist destination. The town changed from a fishing village to a popular tourist destination during the Georgian period and tourism increased further with the arrival of the ralway in 1839.
There has been a settlement at Whitby since 656 and several earlier monastries which were either destroyed or rebuilt. Whitby is known for its Jet Jewellery. Whitby at its peak in 1790 was the third largest shipbuilder in England. The ship HMS Endeavour that took Captain Cook to Australia and New Zealand was built in Whitby in 1764.
On the Old Town side of Whitby there are 199 steps that lead up to the Church of St. Mary which is famous for giving Bram Stoker the inspiration for his famous book - Dracula. The ruins of St Hilda's Abbey dominates the skyline are cared for by English Heritage for which there is an entrance fee. Interestingly the Abbey also claims to be the inspiration for Dracula.
The town of Whitby with its lobster or crab baskets on the quayside is a typically English seaside town. The main harbour area and old town are a delight to explore and there are plenty of cafes, pubs and restaurants available as well as many small independent shops. A definite 'must visit' location if you find yourself in this part of the world.
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Meanwood used to be a village on the outskirts of Leeds but it is now a suburb on the North West side of the city. The name Meanwood dates back to the 12th century
The 1841 census lists 144 houses in Meanwood of which many were stone cottages which have since been demolished. However there are some interesting older buildings on Monkbridge Road and some back to backs housing in Monkbridge Avenue. This short avenue used to have cobbled streets and outside toilets up until 1970.
In fact, take a walk around this area and you will still see the old cobbled streets and back alleys that have all but gone in most places.
