But as times have changed, many historic education buildings in the area became unfit for purpose and were transformed.
Some have remained in operation as education centres while others have been employed for very different purposes – often still serving the community as religious buildings, homes or offices.
A number of the schools on this list were kindly suggested by members of Chesterfield and District Civic Society.
Other former schools, which aren’t pictured, include Staveley’s National School, the first elementary school in Staveley near the church in High Street, and the former Mastin Moor School, which is now a private residence.
Woodthorpe’s village school was built by 7th Duke of Devonshire in 1862, and closed its doors in 2019.
Slightly further afield is the former Apperknowle primary school, on Barrack Road, which shut in 2008 and is now a private residence.
This list does not include former school buildings retained by the county council for educational use, mostly by specialist pupil-support units or for community education.
A number of the schools on this list were kindly suggested by members of Chesterfield and District Civic Society.
![The civic society says: "Tapton House was opened by Chesterfield Corporation as a ‘central selective school’ (i.e. a secondary school in all but name) in 1931; became a small, mixed academic secondary school under the 1944 Education Act. Closed in 1991; later used by Chesterfield College; empty for several years."](https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg5ODEzMmIzLTBiZGMtNDU3Yi1iMmJhLTRjNTAyZDg2MWI4ZjowYjg5NTc2My1jYTYzLTRhOGMtYjFkMC0yNGY5Yzg2MTliMWI=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
13. Tapton House, Chesterfield
The civic society says: "Tapton House was opened by Chesterfield Corporation as a ‘central selective school’ (i.e. a secondary school in all but name) in 1931; became a small, mixed academic secondary school under the 1944 Education Act. Closed in 1991; later used by Chesterfield College; empty for several years."Photo: Brian Eyre
![The former Manor School building on Ashgate Road was replaced by Ashgate Manor - which is home to a GP surgery and pharmacy.](https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmFkM2I1OGZlLWEwMzItNGU3NC1iOGJjLTBkZWY4NDc2MmQwOTozNTA3NzVlMy1iZTg4LTRiNjEtODYwOS1jNDNkZTNjZTdkZTA=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
14. Manor School
The former Manor School building on Ashgate Road was replaced by Ashgate Manor - which is home to a GP surgery and pharmacy.Photo: Terry Walden
![The old Walton Holymoorside School was located on New Road in Holymoorside, before moving to its current location on Holymoor Road back in 2002 - while the former site of the school was turned into flats.](https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjRlMmIyMmYzLWQzYjUtNDY3OC1iMjEwLTVhOWJjNzdkMDc0NDplNTMxZmY0OS05NTBmLTQ0ZDgtYjQyZS1mMDExNzc4OGZmNWM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
15. Walton Holymoorside School, Holymoorside
The old Walton Holymoorside School was located on New Road in Holymoorside, before moving to its current location on Holymoor Road back in 2002 - while the former site of the school was turned into flats.Photo: Google
![56 new homes were eventually built on the site of the former Newbold School - with the land lying empty after the school was demolished by Derbyshire County Council back in 2006.](https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmE1N2YyYzc1LTYzOTgtNGU5OS1iNzY5LWU5MTdlZGRjMTZjMjpkOGUwOGFkYy03MjYxLTQwNzctOTY2NC0xYmY4NTA1MGZkMzU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
16. Newbold School
56 new homes were eventually built on the site of the former Newbold School - with the land lying empty after the school was demolished by Derbyshire County Council back in 2006.Photo: Google