Chester-le-Street has a wealth of history and its future looks rosy. Aranda Garrard discovers why the area is such a desirable place in which to live. THOUGH it was built on the site of a Roman Fort, few clues remain to Chester-le-Street’s historic past.
In Roman times, the area was called Concangis. It became Chester-le-Street in the 17th Century, to distinguish it from the city of Chester, near the Welsh border. The ancient Roman road on which the town grew is now called Front Street, and artefacts from this period are housed in Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle. Today, the postcode area of DH2 is the fastest-growing in Durham. As well as outstanding scenery, there are many places of interest to visit, including Beamish Museum and Lumley Castle, now a luxury hotel where guests can be treated to medieval banqueting. The castle was once the ancestral home of the Lumley family, who prospered as mine owners for three centuries. During the 18th and 19th centuries Chester-le-Street was dominated by coal-mining. Evidence of its industrial past can be seen at the town’s Civic Centre, which holds colliery banners which would have been carried in the annual Durham Miners’ gala – for more than a century. Back in the late 1800s and into the 1900s employment centred on a brewery, toffee manufacturer, engineering works, a dress factory and bus depot. Today, all the mines and factories have closed, making way for many new housing developments. The main sources of employment can be found in health and social work, followed by wholesale and retail. Chester-le-Street has a thriving outdoor market three days a week. And with the A1(M) nearby, 21st Century Chester-le-Street is a very desirable place to live. The average price of a two-bed property is about £107,926, which is significantly less than the national average of £187,894. The Riverside development lies on the banks of the River Wear and is home to Durham County Cricket Ground which has played host to international games. The 14th Century parish church of St Mary and St Cuthbert with its spire is one of the town’s major landmarks, and next to the church is Ankers House, one of the smallest museums in the country, which has many Anglo-Saxon and medieval artefacts. Adrian Siddall of estate agents JW Wood in Chester-le-Street said the area was popular with the full range of buyers and homes always attracted interest. “General uncertainty as to the future of property values, interest rates and the rising cost of living have caused a slow down in the number of property transactions throughout the country,” he said. “However, as always, a good location is the key to a good long term property investment. A good place to live will always be in demand, regardless of whether the value is rising or static. Chester-le-Street has flourished more than many areas in this respect during recent years. The town offers a good range of housing, from first-time buyer properties close to town, to attractive traditional style Victorian and 1930s housing and a good range of modern and state of the art new homes. “Attractive surroundings such as the Riverside Park, River Wear and the first class county cricket ground, all overlooked by Lumley Castle, are immensely popular, particularly in summer. “The town's central regional location make it ideal, with excellent road and rail access providing links to Durham, Sunderland, Gateshead, Washington and Newcastle. In terms of location, facilities and accessibility, Chester-le-Street has it all. Long-term investment wise, that's good news for the people of Chester-le-Street.” | 
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