Next Drop In
Tuesday 1 September 2026
10am – Noon – In The Lambton
Small Charge £1.00 Includes Tea/Coffee
Everyone Welcome
Next Meeting
Wednesday 2 September 2026
A Talk by Barry Ross
‘The Arcade Fire’
7-9pm Lambton
Entrance £3.00
Everyone Welcome
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History Group Exhibition & Drop-In
We meet in the Lambton Arms (the old Spanish Bar for those of a certain age) where you can ask to view our extensive archives. Share your memories or ask questions about the town or region. For instance the photo is from 1960 and was taken at the Council School (now Cestria School) next to the Parish Church. It was one of over a hundred photographs taken at the time. You can view these and many more we have of other schools including The Grammar (Park View) or The Secondary Modern. Why not pop in between 10-12 o’clock on a Tuesday and see what we have.
New Publications
Over the years the Heritage Group have produced a number of booklets, our two latest are “The Bevin Boys” tells the story of men conscripted during WW2 to work in the mines. Also “Chester Lads & Lasses Remembered” a tribute to those killed during WW1 and are remembered on the town’s war memorials.
Heritage Trail Website
Chester-le-Street Heritage Trail is a walk around the town and covers the town’s history from the Roman period to present day. It is a circular walk that can be started at any point. The route is marked with way markers, information boards and plaques on some of the prominent buildings in the town.
For more information please use the link below.
A Brief History of the Heritage Group
Chester-le-Street Heritage Group was formed in 1986, although its origins go back to the mid 1960s when it was known as Chester-le-Street Local History Society. The main activities of the Group is the study of local history, in particular Chester-le-Street and the surrounding area.
Our intention is to research and share information and knowledge relating to the history of Chester-le-Street. Wherever possible we aim to publish either in Newsletter, Book, Digital Media or through this website, information that we feel may be of interest to amateur or professional historians, researchers into family history or those who only want to find out a bit more about our town.
Join Us
If you are interested in local history or wish to research your family history then why not join us. Unable to attend meetings but still wish to help preserve the history of the town and surrounding area then we also offer a Friends Membership. Please see our Join Us Page for more details
