In the South Aisle of the church you will find two beautifully carved wooden chairs. At first glance they might look like ordinary Victorian furniture, but they have a remarkable story. These are known as the Victorian Chairs, and they once seated two of the most famous figures of the nineteenth century.
These chairs were used by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert during the official opening of St George’s Hall, Liverpool, in 1854. The building was one of the grandest public halls of its time, and much of the stone for its construction came from quarries around Hathersage.
As a gesture of thanks for the quality of the stone and the work of local quarrymen, the city of Liverpool presented these chairs to St Michael and All Angels. It was a way of acknowledging the strong links between the village and the great civic project.
The chairs were made in Austria and are decorated with intricate carving. Each one is slightly different, designed as a matching pair for the royal couple. They now sit at the east end of the South Aisle, close to where the Victorian organ once stood.
If you look closely, you can see the fine detail of the woodwork, which still stands out despite their age.
Although Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were never visitors to Hathersage, their chairs create a small but special connection with the church. They remind us that this hilltop village, though remote from the industrial cities of the nineteenth century, still played a part in national stories of architecture and craftsmanship.
Today the chairs are no longer used for services, but they remain an important feature of the church. They tell a story of local skill, Victorian pride and the surprising journeys that church furnishings sometimes take. Many visitors find them one of the most unexpected and delightful discoveries in the building.
As you move on through the trail, take a moment to imagine the opening ceremony of 1854, the crowds gathered in Liverpool, and the royal couple seated on these very chairs.
