Chester le Street, Co. Durham

Town of Chester le Street, Co. Durham

Chester-le-Street is the business, residential and shopping centre of one of the smallest English districts.

Chester-le-Street is located in the northern part of County Durham, between Durham City and Gateshead in Tyne and Wear.  The town is located 13 km. (8 miles) west of Sunderland on the River Wear.

It has a history going back to Roman times when it was called Concangis.

The current Chester-le-Street district was formed by the amalgamation in 1974 of the former Chester-le-Street Urban and Rural Districts.

The Riverside Ground at Chester-le-Street is home to Durham County Cricket Club which became a first class county in 1992.

Chester-le-Street district has a population of 57,000.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the coal industry dominated Chester-le-Street.

The district has some outstanding scenery with lowland fells to the east and west of Chester-le-Street. Waldridge fell has retained its character as the only uncultivated lowland common in county Durham and as such is a local nature reserve.

Official Town of Chester le Street, Co. Durham website: www.chester-le-street.gov.uk