Chester-le-Street
Chester-Le-Street is a market town in County Durham.
Understand
In 2011, it had a population of 24,000.
The town's history is ancient; records date to a Roman-built fort called Concangis. The Roman fort is the Chester (from the Latin castra) of the town's name; the Street refers to the paved Roman road that ran north–south through the town, now the route called Front Street.
Climate
The town has a mild climate and gets well below average rainfall relative to the UK. It does though experience occasional floods. To the east of the town lies the Riverside cricket ground and Riverside Park. They were built on the flood plains of the River Wear, and are often flooded when the river bursts its banks. The town centre is subject to occasional flash flooding, usually after very heavy rain over the town and surrounding areas, if the rain falls too quickly for it to be drained away by Cong Burn.
Get in and around
It is around 6 miles (10 kilometres) north of Durham and is also close to Newcastle upon Tyne.
Chester-Le-Street has a train station on the London to Edinburgh line.
Being less than 15 minutes from Newcastle and Durham, it makes for a nice half day trip from these destinations.
Chester-le-Street's bus services are operated primarily by Go North East and Arriva North East; routes connect the town with Newcastle, Durham, Middlesbrough and Seaham.
See
- 1 Church of St Mary and St Cuthbert. This is where the body of Anglo-Saxon St Cuthbert lay for 112 years before being transferred to Durham Cathedral, and site of the first Gospels translation into English. Aldred wrote the Old English gloss between the lines of the Lindisfarne Gospels there.
- 2 Chester Burn viaduct. The viaduct to the northwest of the town centre was completed in 1868 for the North Eastern Railway, to enable trains to travel at high speed on a more direct route between Newcastle and Durham. It is over 230 m long with 11 arches, now spanning a road and supermarket car-park, and is a Grade II listed structure.
- 3 Lumley Castle. Lumley Castle was built in 1389. It is on the eastern bank of the River Wear and overlooks the town and the Riverside Park. It is now a hotel.
- The Queens Head Hotel (in the central area of the Front Street). It was built over 250 years ago when Front Street formed part of the main route from Edinburgh and Newcastle to London and the south of England. A Grade II listed building, it is set back from the street and is still one of the largest buildings in the town centre.
- 4 The Post Office, 137 Front Street. An Art Deco building that opened in 1936. It is one of a handful of post offices that display the royal cypher from the brief reign of Edward VIII.
Do
- 1 Riverside Cricket Ground. See a cricket match or a concert here.
- Riverside park.
- Lambton Park.
Buy
The town holds markets on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Eat
- 1 REfUSE Cafe, 143C Front Street, ☏ +44 7419 749045.
- 2 The Himalaya of Chester-le-Street, 11 S Burns, ☏ +44 0191 388 8753. Indian restaurant.
Drink
Most bars are along Front St.
- 1 Hollathans, 6-9, Ashfield Terrace, ☏ +44 0191 3880090, bookings@hollathans.com. W-Su noon-late (food last call at 9PM).
- 2 The Butchers Arms, Middle Chare, ☏ +44 0191 388 3605.
- 3 Carsons Cafe Bar, 91 Front St, ☏ +44 7715 992709, info@carsonscafebar.co.uk. Tu W 9AM-3PM, Th 9AM-8PM, F Sa 9AM-10PM.