Chesterfield’s Historic Stephenson Memorial Hall Refurbished
G F Tomlinson has refurbished Chesterfield’s landmark theatre and museum Stephenson Memorial Hall and handed the building back to Chesterfield Borough Council ahead of its reopening as 1435.
As a result of the multi-million-pound project the historic building on Corporation Street has been extensively remodelled and upgraded to create a modern cultural venue, while key features of its heritage have been retained and restored.
Work began in December 2023 and has involved a complex programme of structural, mechanical and electrical works alongside significant improvements to the building’s fabric and accessibility.
The venue now features a 625-seat theatre, an expanded museum with improved facilities for hosting touring exhibitions and works, two bars and flexible spaces for meetings, events and community activities.
As part of the refurbishment G F Tomlinson has delivered a new internal layout, comprehensive rewiring, a new heating and ventilation system, roof improvements, structural works and new lifts providing access across all floors of the building including the backstage area.
Significant changes have also been made to the auditorium, including a redesigned and rebuilt circle, new access points and entrances, a new control room and improvements to the auditorium floor which includes an integrated ventilation system.
A new Link Gallery on the Corporation Street side of the building provides flexible spaces for events, school visits and community activities alongside a new extension on Station Back Lane incorporating modern dressing rooms and back-of-house facilities.
Given the building’s Grade II Listed status, the refurbishment has required a sensitive approach to ensure its historic character is protected while bringing its facilities up to modern standards.
Works to improve the building’s fabric included roof repairs and upgrades, with existing tiles carefully removed and retained for reuse alongside matching new tiles. External brickwork has also been cleaned and areas of repointing undertaken. Accessibility and visitor facilities have been significantly enhanced, including the installation of three new lifts serving every floor and a Changing Places toilet within the lower ground floor.
The completed project forms part of Chesterfield Borough Council’s wider plans to regenerate the town centre and create a vibrant destination with arts, culture and heritage at its heart.
The venue’s new identity, 1435, celebrates one of George Stephenson’s greatest innovations – the standard gauge railway track, whose rails are set 1435mm apart. The name reflects the building’s heritage while looking towards its future as a place that brings the community together through arts, culture and heritage.
The project has been supported by £11 million from the £20 million Levelling Up Fund grant awarded to Chesterfield Borough Council, alongside £1 million from the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s capital grants programme and more than £600,000 from Arts Council England. Additional funding has been provided by Chesterfield Borough Council, which owns and manages the building.
Andy Sewards, Chairman of G F Tomlinson, said:
“We are proud to have played a key role in the transformation of Stephenson Memorial Hall into 1435, helping to bring new life to one of Chesterfield’s most important historic buildings.
“This has been a complex and rewarding project, carefully balancing the preservation of the building’s heritage with the delivery of modern, high-quality facilities that will serve the community for generations to come.
“Working closely with Chesterfield Borough Council and the wider project team, we are delighted to see the completed venue ready to support arts, culture and community activity in the town centre. 1435 is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through strong partnership and a commitment to creating a vibrant, accessible and future-ready destination for Chesterfield.”
Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said:
“We cannot wait to welcome residents and visitors into 1435. The completion of building works is a major step towards reopening and allows us to start preparing the venue ready for visitors to experience it later this year.
“The transformation of this building will help ensure that future generations can experience heritage and culture in an incredible setting, but we’ve worked closely with G F Tomlinson, Bauman Lyons architects and our wider project team to ensure that there will still be lots of features that our regular visitors know and love.”