Little Chester
| Little Chester | |
| Derbyshire | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SK355372 |
| Location: | 52°55’53"N, 1°28’21"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Derby |
| Postcode: | DE1 |
| Dialling code: | 01332 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Derby |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Derby North |
Little Chester, or Chester Green is a suburb of the city of Derby, in Derbyshire, located directly north of the city centre. It is bounded by the River Derwent and also by the main railway line to Sheffield.
History
- Main article: Derventio Coritanorum
It is the most historic area of Derby, the location of a large fortified Roman settlement, which they called Derventio.[1] This fort, which later became a town, was not only protected the river crossing, but also stood at the junction and gave protection to five Roman roads, of which the most important was Ryknield Street, which connected Gloucester and the West Country with Yorkshire beyond.[1]
Little of the Roman settlement remains at Little Chester today, apart from two Roman wells, one on Marcus Street and the other in the garden of the vicarage of St Paul's Church.[1] However, a series of excavations in the last fifty years have established both its importance and prosperity, including the discovery of an underfloor heating system on Parker’s Piece and an abundance of coins.
Later times
The district has been continually inhabited since the departure of the Romans. Chester Green, the open land which is the centrepiece of the area, is first referred to by name in written records dating back to 1495, and has been a public park since 1866.[2] In modern times the name Chester Green, applied to the district as a whole, seems to have overtaken the older name, 'Little Chester', in popular usage.[2]