Chester-le-Street Tourist Information

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.