Amateur early 1970s compilation of footage intercut with archive photographs made by Chester-le-Street Amateur Cine Society, which records street scenes in Chester-le-Street and looks at how the town, shops and architecture have changed or remained the same in the 20th century.  Title: Chester-le-Street Past and Present Credit: By H. Cox and N. Wanless Credit: Our thanks to Mr JB Stoker for the loan of his pictures without which this film would not have been possible. Archive photographs...

Amateur early 1970s compilation of footage intercut with archive photographs made by Chester-le-Street Amateur Cine Society, which records street scenes in Chester-le-Street and looks at how the town, shops and architecture have changed or remained the same in the 20th century.  Title: Chester-le-Street Past and Present Credit: By H. Cox and N. Wanless Credit: Our thanks to Mr JB Stoker for the loan of his pictures without which this film would not have been possible. Archive photographs of streets and businesses in Chester-le-Street are intercut with contemporary footage of the same streets and buildings during the 1970s. Businesses on the main shopping street, Front Street, include Browns hairdressers next to The High Crown pub, J and G Archibald. Ivan Simpson Bathrooms stands on a corner. A Morris Minor Traveller is parked outside the large Broughs supermarket in Front Street in a contemporary photo and footage of the store follows, still trading in the early 1970s. Further comparisons follow of businesses and streets down Front Street. These include terraced housing, the 1930s Chester-le-Street Post Office at 137 Front Street, Howards, some grander houses, and the Lambton Arms. An old postcard illustrates a crowd attending the throwing out of the ball at Dalkin’s upstairs window for the traditional Shrove Tuesday football. Maynards and Thomas Stewart are still trading. The Temperance Inn has disappeared. Pearson’s is now Fairburns shop. The Woolworth’s store, the Red Lion, Leggetts and Ladbrooks are recorded along with a G. W. Horner public house, called after the confectionery (toffee) magnate whose factory was on Foundry Lane, and the Co-op building. The Chester-le-Street Methodist Church stands at North Burns. Ladbrokes inhabits an old cinema (?) in sight of the railway viaduct. Footage and photographs of the viaduct follow. The Deanery has been replaced by a secondary modern school, part of Park View School. Several more comparisons are made, one photograph documenting the J Murray Cereal Merchant building. Footage and photographs then document Lumley Castle, the River Wear, Riverside Park, bowling greens, general views of Chester-le-Street, St Mary and St Cuthbert church, G.W. Horner’s Sweet Factory chimney, various modern buildings. The film ends with footage of the busy Market Place. Title: The End