A special celebration of the life of ‘Father of Railways’ will take place in Chesterfield next month.
George Stephenson Day 2026 will take place on Saturday, June 13th at Holy Trinity Church, the final resting place of the engineering pioneer.
The event will include the first public display at Holy Trinity of rare artefacts connected to the historic Clay Cross Company. The items have been donated by a former archivist of the company and offer a fascinating glimpse into one of Derbyshire’s most important industrial enterprises.
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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. Stephenson established the company after discovering rich coal and iron reserves while constructing the Clay Cross Tunnel for the North Midland Railway.
Holy Trinity is currently undergoing improvement work, including a new kitchen and toilet facilities, as part of a major heritage 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.
Developments include interpretation displays, visitor engagement activities and dedicated facilities designed to welcome schools, tourists and local history enthusiasts.
Reverend Jilly Hancock of Holy Trinity Church said: “George Stephenson Day is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to discover the extraordinary story of the man who helped change the world and is buried right here in Chesterfield. This year’s event will also allow visitors to see the exciting progress being made at Holy Trinity as we continue developing the church as a heritage destination for the town and beyond.”
The event is free to attend.
