Chesterfield's Stephenson Memorial Hall theatre and museum renovation complete
The landmark is to reopen under a new name later this year
Chesterfield's iconic Stephenson Memorial Hall has completed its renovations and is ready to reopen later this year under a new name - 1435.
The redesigned venue will feature a 625-seat theatre, expanded museum facilities, two bars, and spaces for meetings and other events.
The transformation began in December 2023 and involved a massive overhaul to preserve the building's heritage while modernising facilities for visitors.
Work is onging to relocate museum exhibits, install furnishings and train staff ahead of the reopening.
The annual pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, will be the first production at 1435, with more shows and exhibitions slated soon.
Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said:
“We cannot wait to welcome residents and visitors into 1435 later this year. 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 hard to ensure that there will still be lots of features that our regular visitors know and love."
“This is an ambitious project for Chesterfield, and it will ensure that we can attract more visitors through an expanded cultural offering in this wonderful building.”
Andy Sewards, Chairman of co G F Tomlinson, acknowledged the project's significance:
The venue is named in honour of George Stephenson's standard gauge rail track - which is 1435mm wide.