Cestria

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Cestria u3a

The known history of Chester-le-Street dates back to 122AD when a Roman fort was built along the banks of the River Wear. The site of the fort was centred on the Church Chare area, and possibly called “Congangis”. The fort was a base for the legions stationed on Hadrian’s Wall and rebuilt several times before it was abandoned at the end of the Roman occupation in 407AD.

The next important stage in town’s history began in 883AD when monks from Lindisfarne brought the body of St Cuthbert here. A wooden cathedral was built to house St Cuthbert’s remains. Chester-le-Street or Cuneceastre as it was known under Bishop Eardulph became the seat of the Anglo Saxon Bishops. It was around 950 to 960AD that the Lindisfarne Gospels were translated into Old English by Aldred here in Chester-le-Street.

St Mary and St Cuthbert church possesses a rare surviving anchorage, one of the best-preserved in the country. It was built for an anchorite, an extreme form of hermit. It was occupied by six anchorites from 1383 to c. 1538, and is now a museum known as the Anker's House. The picture below was provided by John Denny, a member of the u3a Photography Group

Chester-le-Street is now known as the home to the  Durham County Cricket Club which became a first class county in 1992. Since 1999, the ground has hosted many international fixtures, usually involving the England cricket team. The stadium also hosts large scale outdoor events including festivals and concerts featuring many international acts such as Rod Stewart, Elton John, Bryan Adams, Diana Ross, Michael Buble and many more

Cestria u3a