Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Christmas Deliveries: If you placed an order on or before midday on Wednesday 18th December for Christmas delivery it was despatched before the Royal Mail or Parcel Force deadline and therefore should be received in time for Christmas. Orders placed after midday on Wednesday 18th December will be delivered in the New Year.

Please Note: Our offices and factory are now closed until Thursday 2nd January when we will be pleased to deal with any queries that have arisen during the holiday period.

During the holiday our Gift Cards may still be ordered for any last minute orders and will be sent automatically by email direct to your recipient - see here: Gift Cards

Nostalgic memories of Chester-Le-Street's local history

Share your own memories of Chester-Le-Street and read what others have said

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.

Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.

Add a Memory!

It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin

Displaying Memories 11 - 14 of 14 in total

THE KITE FLYERS The Second World War had just ended before I started school. In that summer the craze in the council estate was for kite flying. Me and my pal Brian used to watch the big lads, Sam,Teddy, Bobby and Ian, flying kites on the Green, just above Murray Road. The kites were made of garden canes split in two, or orange box laths split and shaved down, tied in the middle to form a cross, and the ...see more
I was born in Newfield,about three miles from the Street, and recall the pictures very vividly and the comments by one other person about the Empire Ballroom. We used to go there every Friday night for the dance, dressed in our best togs, and had a great time, all for a shilling. We had to run down the main street to catch the last General A bus home at 10.40. I met my first ever girlfriend at the Empire, ...see more
Chester-le-Street Heritage Group are building an archive of photographs and memories relating to Chester-le-Street and the surrounding area. If you would like to share your memories and/or allow us to scan your photographs for inclusion in the Group's archive, then please get in touch we would love to hear from you. We hold 'Drop-In Sessions' every Tuesday morning at the Salvation Army Citadel, ...see more
I didn't live in Chester-le-Street (I lived at Fence Houses) but I used to work at Brough's Grocery Store at the top end of the main street and then I went to work at RODNEY DRESSES factory as the wages were a bit better and I was very happy there. My friends and I enjoyed going to the Empire (?) Ballroom which was  in the market square at that time and also to the various cinemas which I believe do not exist ...see more