Lanchester
| Lanchester | |
| County Durham | |
|---|---|
 Lanchester | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NZ165475 |
| Location: | 54°49’19"N, 1°44’38"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Durham |
| Postcode: | DH7 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | County Durham |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
North West Durham |
Lanchester is a village in County Durham, on the banks of the River Browney 8 miles west of the city of Durham and 5 miles from the former steel town of Consett. Lanchester has a population of about 4000.
Although there was a small drift mine on the edge of the village which closed in the 1970s, Lanchester's economy was mainly based on agriculture. It is now a residential village in which a number of housing estates have been developed since the late 1960s. The village centre now has three pubs and a small shopping centre. Thanks to the Lanchester Partnership, a cycle track was opened on 25 April 2009.
History
The earliest occupation on the site is the Roman auxiliary fort located just southwest of Lanchester (NZ159469. Longovicium lay on the Roman road leading north from Eboracum (York), now known as Dere Street. Longovicium stands on the road between the forts of Vindomora (Ebchester), and Vinovia (Binchester) and dates to AD 140,[1] covers almost 6.0 acres (2.4 ha),[1] and housed around 1000 foot soldiers and cavalry. The fort foundations are well preserved, but there has only been minor excavation work carried out in 1937.
Stone from the fort was used in the construction of All Saints Church, which has a Roman altar (one of many found in or near the fort) which was found near the fort in 1893 in its porch.[2]
Lanchester is one of several places proposed as the location of the famous Battle of Brunanburh,[3] in which in 937 King Athelstan defeated an alliance of the kings of Scotland, Strathclyde and Norse Dublin.
Churches
There are three churches in the village including The Church of England, which overlooks the village green. It is predominantly Norman and Early English, with the tower dating from c. 1430.
The other churches within Lanchester are the Methodist Church, standing at the heart of the village, and All Saints Roman Catholic Church.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Lanchester) |
- Lanchester Parish Council
- Subterranea Britannica entry on Lanchester Station.
- Roman fort
- Lanchester Community Centre
- Lanchester Bowling Club
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Graham, Frank (1979). Roman Durham. Newcastle upon Tyne: Frank Graham. pp. 17. ISBN 0-85983-155-8.
- ↑ Roman Inscriptions of Britain – the Northern Borders (Lanchester)
- ↑ Lanchester - birthplace of a unified kingdom?, The Northern Echo 4 October 2013