Historic Chester-le-Street (original) (raw)
Chester-le-Street lies 6 miles from Durham, 8 from Newcastle and 9 from the Coastal Town of Sunderland.
The history of Chester-le-Street can be traced back to when Romans arrived.
It has been a Roman Fort, a resting place for Saint Cuthbert and a home to leading gentry.
During the Industrial Revolution, Chester-le-Street changed from farmland into a mining town, supporting many villiages, as the demand for coal from the North-East grew, so did Chester-le-street.
Today, all the coal mines and factories have closed, making way for new housing developments. And once again Chester-le-Street has returned to a sleepy market town.
The Consett to Sunderland Cycle Track
This Railway line was originally built in the 1800’s and part of it remained working, serving the steel town of Consett. When the works were closed in 1985, the last working part of line closed too.
Durham County Council had already made part of the track into a cycle route and after purchasing sections from British Rail, the whole line became a walking route.
Picktree Lodge and Great North Road looking in the direction of Washington.
St. Mary and St Cuthbert's Church, Chester-le-Street
This cathedral church and shrine of St. Cuthbert is the home of The Anchor House Museum, (one of the United Kingdom's smallest museums), which displays various aspects of mediaeval and Anglo-Saxon history, as well as Roman artifacts discovered during many archeological digs. The Church was to become the resting place of St.Cuthbert in 883AD, when he was moved from Holy Island.
In 1104 St. Cuthbert was moved to his final resting place of Durham Cathedral.
St. Mary and St Cuthbert's Church
Roman Fort Remains, Chester-le-Street
In 122 AD, (about the same time as the Romans built Hadrian's Wall), they built a Fort at Chester-le-Street and called it 'Congangium'. During archeological digs many items of interest were found. This is a section of the Roman Fort that has been left on view to the public.
Roman Fort
Roman Road, Chester-le-Street
After the Romans built a Fort at Chester-le-Street they decided it would be a good idea to build a road linking it with Newcastle. In later years this road became a coaching road. Horses and carriages used to travel from London to Scotland and this road became known as the A1. However, there is now an A1(M) so this road is now simply known as Great North Road.
The old A1 and the new A1(M)
The Wheatsheaf, Chester-le-Street
The Wheatsheaf Public House was originally a coaching inn on the old Roman Road. Still standing with its stable building and horse mounting steps.
The Wheatsheaf Pub
The Lambton Worm, Chester-le-Street
The Lambton Worm Public House and Hotel was originally built in the 1960's and owned by Fred Barber . It was known as "The Chester Resthouse" on the old A1 Road.
The Chester Resthouse
Lumley Castle, Chester-le-Street
Lumley Castle, now a 4 star hotel, was built by Lord Ralph, Lumley in 1390. Lily Lumley (the first wife of Sir Ralph, later Lord Lumley) is said to walk the staircase to the basement, bedrooms of the castle, and there have also been stories of phantom footsteps in the rooms of the castle and also strange cries and sobbing.
Lumley Castle
North Lodge Lambton Gate, Chester-le-Street
North Lodge Lambton Park was originally the north entrance to Lord Lambton's Estate and Castle Grounds. Gate House still stands in its original position at the head of the drive. Now split in half by the A1(m), this is now a quiet private road filled with beautiful houses and winding driveways.
North Lodge Gate
Lambton Castle, Chester-le-Street
Lambton Castle built in 1797 was originally the home of the Lambton family and the focus of the legend of the "Lambton Wyrm". The castle is privately owned and little is known about it today.
Lambton Castle
Horner's Toffee Factory, Chester-le-Street
Saint Cuthbert's Shopping Mall now stands on the site of Horner's Toffee Factory, makers of Dainty Dinah's Toffee. The polychrome ceramic bust of a female in period costume and bonnet, was commissioned by George W. Horner and once stood high on the chimney top of the toffee factory. The statue was made by William Barribal, in 1911. The figure is encased in a perspex box and set on a brick base is on display in The Civic Centre, and will soon be moving to a permenant home..
Dainty Dinah
Penshaw Monument, Penshaw, Sunderland
Penshaw Monument was designed by John and Benjamin Green and based on the Theseum at Athens. It was built in 1844 and dedicated to John George Lambton, first Earl of Durham.
It is also the focus of the legend of the Lambton Worm.
Penshaw Monument
The Legend of The Lambton Worm / Wyrm
To read more about the Legend of the Lambton Worm Click Here
A translation of "The Song Of The Lambton Worm": For the None Mackem*
One Sunday morning young Lambton
went fishing in the Wear;
He caught a fish upon his hook,
He thought looked very queer,
But what kind a fish it was
Young Lambton couldn't tell.
He didn't want to carry it home,
So he threw it in a well.Shhh ! lads, stop talking,
And I will tell you all an awful story,
Shhh ! lads, stop talking,
And I will tell you about the worm.
Now Lambton felt inclined to go
And fight in foreign wars.
He joined a troop of Knights that cared
For neither wounds nor scars,
And off he went to Palestine
Where queer things started to happen,
And very soon he forgot about
The strange worm down the well.
Chorus
But the worm got fat and grew and grew
And grew an awful size;
With great big teeth, a great big mouth,
And great big goggle eyes.
And when at night he crawled around
To see what was going on
If he got thirsty walking along the road,
He milked a dozen cows.
Chorus
This fearful worm was often feed
On calves and lambs and sheep,
And swallowed little children alive
When they went to sleep.
And when he'd eaten all he could
And he'd had his fill,
He crawled away and wrapped his tail
Seven times round Penshaw Hill.
Chorus
The news of this most awful worm
And his queer goings on
Soon crossed the seas, got to the ears
Of brave and bold Sir John.
So home he came and caught the beast
And cut him in three halves,
An'd that soon stopped him eating children,
And sheep and lambs and calves.
Chorus
So now you know how all the folks
On both sides of the Wear
Lost lots of sheep and lots of sleep
And lived in mortal fear.
So let's have one to brave Sir John
That kept the children free from harm
Saved cows and calves by making halves
Of the famous Lambton Worm
Chorus
Now lads, I will stop talking,
That's all I know about the story
Of Sir John's clever job
With the awful Lambton Worm
*Mackem - Someone native to the Sunderland Area
Durham County Cricket Ground, Riverside, Chester-le-Street
The Durham County Cricket Club, played their first match at Ashbrooke Cricket Ground, Sunderland on 12th June 1882 when they defeated Northumberland.
Between 1992 and 1994 Durham had a nomadic existence with no proper home venue, planning approval was granted in April 1993 for Durham County Cricket Club to create their own ground.
Despite the fact that many local residents objected to the ground, being placed by the riverside, (sending out petition after petition) the ground was built anyway. It was fully completed in 1998, but not before one of the stands was lowered as it obstructed the view of Lumley Castle.
Durham County Cricket Club