Our latest plaque – actually a replacement for an inaccurate and life-expired one – was unveiled on Thursday 8 February 2024 by the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield.

It has been sponsored by Leverton UK who own and have renovated the Grade II listed property on which it sits – 87 New Square – as high quality apartments.

For some years this Grade II listed building was the supposed boyhood home of Thomas Secker, doctor and priest and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1758 to 1768 – but the building is of too late a date for this. It was probably built between 1777 and 1795.

Local historians the late John Bestall and also Philip Riden have both failed to find any direct association with this present building and Secker – it seems more likely that a predecessor building on this site may have been his childhood home.

We are very grateful to Leverton UK for sponsoring the latest in our series of plaques and wish them every success in this development. The society feels that Introducing the right mix of housing in the town centre is a crucial part of the economy and has argued for this over many years.

One of our committee members has researched the property. You can find this by following the link to our revised blue plaque page for this property here.

The Civic Society have three other plaques in their series to erect elsewhere in the town and are actively pursuing others. Progress generally depends on external sponsorship.