Chesterfield’s historic Stephenson Memorial Hall is being transformed as part of a multi-million pound renovation project to create a modern visitor experience in the heart of our town centre.
Around £11 million of the Levelling Up Fund grant funding we secured will be used to fund a £19 million renovation and remodelling of the theatre and museum space, which are housed in the Grade II listed building on Corporation Street.
The project received a further funding boost with £695,000 from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme which will be used to install a ventilation system in the theatre auditorium and create a new Changing Places toilet.
Under the proposals the refurbished hall will bring together an extended Theatre, a reconfigured and modern museum, alongside new gallery space, a café bar, education and community facilities.
G F Tomlinson took control of the site in November 2023 and will now work to deliver the enhanced building. Expected completion of the project is in 2026 with the building re-opening to the public later in 2026.
The designs for the building have been developed by leading architectural firm Bauman Lyons.
The below video aims to show an impression of the new layout of the enhanced building. The colours and wall decorations shown in the video are indicative only.
We will be working hard to offer residents and visitors a wide range of arts and heritage activities in other venues in the town centre and the borough, whilst the transformation of the building is carried out.
A New Vision
We will be reopening the original historic entrance creating a grand one-building entrance befitting the new combined cultural venue. From here visitors will be able to enter into the welcome foyer with access to a retail space and a relocated café bar, marking both the beginning and end of the visitor journey.
The new Corporation Street link gallery extension will create a gateway impact improving the sense of arrival to Chesterfield. At night these elevations will illuminate the street scene, ensuring the building looks vibrant at all times of day.
The work will also protect the Grade II Listed building and ensure that it remains part of the borough’s heritage for many more generations to come. Creating a more accessible experience is another key aim of the proposals. The plans include three new lifts which will significantly improve the accessibility of the building for visitors, artists, and employees.
Theatre
Plans aim to enhance, expand and modernise the theatre without compromising the atmosphere and historic features. The auditorium will be refurbished with new seating, increased capacity and improved sight lines. New theatre systems including lighting and stage rigging creates a contemporary theatre experience whilst the new seating layout retains the intimate feel of the auditorium.
New entrances to the rear of the stalls and extended circle will be created at ground and first floor level, linking the theatre to the café bar and new extension. There will also be integrated exhibition and display opportunities throughout the building allowing greater access to Chesterfield’s heritage. An enhanced back of house area will ensure that artists have modern facilities where they can prepare for performances.
Museum
We are aiming to create a larger enhanced museum space, using the latest technology to help celebrate both our heritage and our community.
The medieval builders wheel forms the backdrop to the welcome space, offering an invitation to explore the museum. The existing museum storage and office spaces on the upper floor are reimagined as four new museum exhibition spaces, utilising the height and celebrating the historic details of the building.
1435
1435, where people and stories meet - coming later in 2026!
1435 brings together entertainment and heritage under one roof, in a multi-million-pound transformation designed to delight, inform and entertain visitors.
Formerly The Stephenson Memorial Hall (home to the Pomegranate Theatre and Chesterfield Museum), the building will retain its important and varied history, while embracing innovative design to make it a must-visit destination.
With the multi-million-pound transformation set to be completed later this year, the new name marks the start of the building’s new future – while celebrating its long history – the name 1435 celebrates one of George Stephenson’s greatest innovations: the standard-gauge rail track.
Set 1435mm apart, this became the global benchmark for rail travel, carrying people, ideas and opportunities across continents. That same spirit of connection sits at the heart of the new 1435, which will bring visitors together through arts, culture and heritage while creating fresh links across the community.
To find out more about 1435, including details on upcoming shows and exhibitions visit the Chesterfield Theatres and Museum website.
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