Our next meeting will be on
Wednesday 17 April 2024
A Film About UK Resistance During WW2 – A follow up to the talk by Barry Ross on the secret resistance network operating in Birtley
7:00pm Lambton Arms
Everyone Welcome – Small Charge £2.00 Includes Tea/Coffee
We meet every Tuesday with our next Drop-In on
Tuesday 9 April 2024
Lambton Arms
10:00am – Noon
Everyone Welcome – Small Charge £1.00 Includes Tea/Coffee
DAINTY DINAH EXHIBTION
10am – 4pm on Thursday 23 / Friday 24 / Saturday 25 May 2024
Lambton Arms, Front Street, Chester-le-Street
The story behind Horner’s and the world famous Dainty Dinah Toffee
As part of the exhibition on the Saturday will be the official launch in paperback of “The Toffee Factory Girls” the first in the trilogy of books by local author Glenda Young. Set in 1915 about three women working in a toffee factory. Hardback and eBook (Kindle) are available now.
History Group Exhibition & Drop-In
We now 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, out latest to be published are “The Bevin Boys” and “Chester Lads & Lasses Remembered”. A copy of both books can been seen at our regular Tuesday Drop-In Sessions in the Lambton Arms, or in Chester-le-Street Library.
An informative book about the Bevin Boys, it relates to men who were conscripted during WW2 to work in the Mining Industry.
Book dedicated to the 286 men and 1 woman, who paid the ultimate sacrifice during WWI and are remembered on the towns two main war memorials.
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