Elder Way, Chesterfield’s iconic mock Tudor building, recently became the focal point in an episode of ITV’s hit documentary series ‘Long Lost Families – Born Without Trace’.
Anyone tuning into the first episode of the latest Long Lost Family series, saw presenters Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell follow the journey of Victoria Vardy, who was abandoned as a baby in Chesterfield in the late 1980s.
Victoria was found in a stairwell of what is now the Premier Inn Hotel on Elder Way. She was tucked inside a brown leather holdall and left in the stairwell when it was a Co-Op department store.
She was originally named Katie Elder (after the location in which she was found) before she was adopted and given the name of Victoria. The show brought, back to Elder Way and to the actual spot where she was found. It’s a poignant mark in the building’s history.
Elder Way has come a long way since the Chesterfield and District Co-operative Society relocated there in 1938. The historic building is now owned by one of the UK’s leading property development, investment and regeneration specialists – Jomast.
Jomast is currently transforming the premium town centre location into a lively leisure space and eating quarter within Chesterfield. The four-storey building is now home to a popular 92-bedroom Premier Inn hotel on its upper two floors. Ground level, the beautiful building boasts seven ground floor units – all with street level access and ideal for café, bars and restaurants.
This development, complete with the proposed widening of the public footpaths on Elder Way, will give a sophisticated and cosmopolitan feel to this area of the town. The restaurant units within Elder Way have been designed and built with large, glazed frontages and designed to accommodate external seating.
The location also benefits from excellent transport links. Chesterfield train station is just a short walk away and Saltergate multi-storey car park is also on its doorstep.
Anyone who is interested in becoming part of this exciting development, and creating their own piece of Chesterfield history, can contact us here.
Long Lost Families – Abandoned at Birth was first aired on ITV on 24 May 2021. View the episode here: Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace – Series 3 – Episode 1 – ITV Hub.
Following the airing of the programme, it has since been revealed that Victoria has been reunited with her birth father and her brother following a 34-year search.