Chesterfield benefitted greatly from the building of the Chesterfield Line - part of the Derby to Leeds railway (North Midland Line), which was begun in 1837 by George Stephenson. During its construction, a sizable seam of coal was discovered. This and the local ironstone were promptly exploited by Stephenson who set up a company to trade in the minerals.
During his time in Chesterfield, Stephenson lived at Tapton House, and remained there in his retirement. He is interred in Trinity Church.
Chesterfield is perhaps best known for the 'crooked spire' of its Church of Saint Mary and All Saints. The twisted spire leans 9 feet 5 inches from its true centre. The twisting is probably the result of unseasoned timbers or insufficient cross-bracing, although there are other explanations: One is that the spire was so shocked to learn of the marriage of a virgin in the church that it bent down to get a closer look. Another is that a Bolsover blacksmith mis-shoed the Devil, who leaped over the spire in pain, knocking it out of shape.