If one were to yearn for roots and history then there is no better place than Chester le Street to be born in. If you are prepared to look, history and heritage oozes from every ancient and modern brick and stone. The town itself has ancient beginnings as may be seen by the following which has been extracted from the Chester le Street history web site. ------------------Chester-le-street District Council - Area History---------------------The town has served many functions - an encampment of the ancient British Epican tribe; site of Conganium, a Roman fort and, for over 150 years, the resting place of St Cuthbert's body before its transfer to Durham, a place of greater safety from Viking invaders. During the middle-ages, Chester-le-Street was the administrative and ecclesiastical centre for the northern part of County Durham and the 14th century Parish Church of St Mary and St Cuthbert - one of the town's major landmarks - is a reminder of this period Lumley Castle, now a luxury hotel, overlooks the cricket ground, and is another major landmark. It was once the ancestral home of the Lumley family and was crenellated at the end of the 14th century by licence of Richard II. The Lumleys continued to prosper as mine-owners over the next three centuries and, as Earls of Scarborough, were at the height of their influence when Sir John Vanburgh lived at the castle. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the coal industry dominated Chester-le-Street and during that period another great county family - the Lambtons - rose to prominence through wealth founded on coal. Lambton Castle was the home of the first Earl of Durham, "Radical Jack" the force behind the reform Act of 1832 and "father" of the unified Canadian state. Local legend tells of the Lambton Worm (or dragon) which was slain by a bygone Lambton heir, after he took advice from a local witch. The witch then cursed him because he refused to kill the first living thing he met after his victory and it is said that all subsequent Lambtons will die a violent death because of this curse. ---------------------------------------For those with a yen for the old and ancient, then my old home town is certainly the place to start. If you do immerse yourself in the history of  Chester le Street then it will not be long before you come up against its big brother only a mere four miles away. I speak of course of the cathedral city of Durham. This really is a most beautiful place, with an ancient castle and cathedral prominently sighted above the banks of the river Wear. Not to visit this great University City at least once in your lifetime is doing yourself a great disservice.