Market Place

Most people from Chester-le-Street and the surrounding area are familiar with the market place in the town. Indeed the regular weekly markets are a feature which have become synonymous with the modern township. However, the market place was not always like it is today. It hides a more sinister secret. Underneath, there is the Cong Burn, cocooned within cement piping. This feature was originally constructed during the 1930’s to prevent flooding in the area. Floods were an all too regular occurrence well into the 1950’s after which time the local council were able to constrain the burn from causing further damage and disruption. On the south side of the market place stood a brewery which had been in evidence from early in the 20th century. Very little remains of the brewery apart from a rather dilapidated arch located in the vicinity of the open space where the Queens Cinema once stood. The last buildings belonging to the brewery were removed a short while ago to make room for the Tesco supermarket. Also, there is the brewery house with a fine 18th century doorcase and bulls-eye windows, now used as a betting shop. Following a successful grant application, funding was obtained to refurbish the doorcase in 2007, restoring it to somewhere like its former glory. Brewery House Doorcase