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Chester-le-Street
stands on the River Wear between the city of Durham and Gateshead
in Tyne and Wear.
The historic
town developed on the site of a Roman fort (known as Concangium),
established to control the main road from Newcastle to Durham.
Known
as 'Conganis' by the Romans and 'Caestre' by
the Normans, the town later became known simply as 'Chester'.
By the
17th century the name 'Chester-le-Street' had been adopted
to distinguish the settlement from the ancient town of Chester
on the River Dee near the Welsh border.
The
'Street' is the paved Roman way (running north - south through
the town) on which the ancient settlement grew up. Today
this is known as Front Street.
In 883
AD monks from the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, fleeing from
Viking attacks, arrived at Chester-le-Street with their great
treasure: the uncorrupted body of St Cuthbert.
The monks
took refuge in the Roman ruins and founded a cathedral here
(now the site of the parish church of St Mary and St Cuthbert).
St Cuthbert was reburied at Chester-le-Street and lay at rest
here for 112 years before being transferred for greater safety
to Durham in 995 AD.
The
monks also brought with them the Lindisfarne Gospels and it
was at Chester-le-Street that the Gospels were first translated
from Latin into English.
Considered
to be the most important manuscripts in the development of
Christianity in the British Isles, the Lindisfarne Gospels
are now housed in the British Library in London. However,
a facsimile can be viewed at the Anker's House Museum beside
the church.
In the
19th century Chester-le-Street became a coal mining centre
and grew rapidly
Although
the town owes its prosperity to the coal industry, the mines
and factories have long since disappeared, and today Chester-le-Street
is a fast-growing dormitory town.
With
its a wide range of shops and busy indoor market (held Tuesday,
Friday and Saturday), the town is now one of the most popular
shopping venues in County Durham.
Another
important feature of the town is the Riverside Cricket Ground.
This is home to Durham County Cricket Club, which became a
first class county in 1992.
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Chester-le-Street
Ankers House Museum Church Chare, Chester-le-Street DH3 3QB
