A leading Chesterfield law firm played a key role in a recent weekend of celebrations honouring the life and achievements of George Stephenson, the pioneering engineer known as the “Father of Railways.”

Hundreds of visitors packed Holy Trinity Church – Stephenson’s final resting place – for the two-day event marking 200 years since the dawn of the modern railway. The celebrations formed part of a major heritage project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and backed by local and national partners including EMR, Cross Country Rail, the Raymond Ross Fund and Graysons Solicitors.

Saturday’s George Stephenson Day featured talks, displays and family activities that brought the engineer’s story to life, while Sunday’s commemoration service welcomed distinguished guests including the Duke of Devonshire, Sir Andrew Haines OBE, chief executive of Network Rail, and BBC Look North’s Tom Ingall.

Peter Clark, managing partner at Graysons, said:“George Stephenson’s vision helped transform Britain’s landscape and industry, and it’s inspiring to see his story celebrated with such passion here in Chesterfield. We’re proud to support a project that connects local people with their heritage and ensures Stephenson’s achievements continue to inspire future generations.”

Distinguished guests included the Duke of Devonshire(appears fourth from left).

placeholder image — Distinguished guests included the Duke of Devonshire(appears fourth from left).

The wider project will see Holy Trinity Church redeveloped into both a place of worship and a visitor destination exploring the town’s rail and industrial history. Planned developments include a new visitor facility, interpretation displays, education programmes and volunteering opportunities.

The project will also commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Miners’ Strike, connecting the town’s past industries with today’s conversations around sustainability and the future of engineering.

Graysons Solicitors – which is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary - specialise in wills, estates and trusts, elderly client services, lifetime planning, property, family law, personal injury, and clinical negligence.

To find out more, please visit: www.graysons.co.uk

Graysons is situated at Unit 14F, The Glass Yard, Sheffield Road, Chesterfield S41 8JY. They also have offices in Sheffield and Hathersage.