Western Building To Chesterfield College Of Art And Technology

The Western Building of Chesterfield College of Art and Technology dates from 1846, with later additions from the 19th century. It was formerly Chesterfield Grammar School, which has roots dating back to the 13th century. A charter from Elizabeth I in 1598 mentions the conversion of the Chapel of St Helen's into a schoolroom, located to the east of the current building. The school was rebuilt in 1709 and again in 1846.

The building features coursed stone construction with quoins and a moulded band at the first floor. Its roof is banded with fishscale and plain tiles, and it has coped gables with kneelers, some topped with finials. The roofs are adorned with cresting and stone chimneys. The northern part, which is the oldest section, has three gables and stands three storeys tall, with three windows featuring stone mullions and transoms on the ground floor, along with a central door.

The adjoining central section is slightly advanced and has two gables with a tower located at the angle between them, standing two storeys high. Below the tower is a Gothic arched doorway, with a shield and date displayed above it. The southern recessed part features a centre gable, is two storeys high, and has three windows. Notable former pupils include Thomas Secker, who became Archbishop of Canterbury in the early 18th century, and Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of Charles Darwin.