Chester Green or Little Chester was designated a Conservation Area in September 1991 in recognition of its historic character and townscape value. The area was incorporated into the Borough of Derby in the 1550’s but has an even older history.

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 1886. In modern times the name little Chester, applied to the district as a whole, seems to have overtaken the "correct" name in popular usage

Factoids

• Little Chester was once the site of Roman Derventio

• A large Roman Fort once stood at Little Chester

• A Roman hypocaust was found near the Cricket Pavilion

Tomlinson's builders and engineers on City Road, currently (2006) new premises are being constructed on Alfreton Road, so looks as though this site may well come up for development in the future

Above and above left is the Bridge Inn on Mansfield Road, it was however originally a private house built in 1789, it became a public house in 1857. One of the former landlords was Frank Jones a boxing promoter who established a Gym on the premises, the rear of Tomlinson's is shown above right

St Paul's Church is a grade II listed building and was built in 1849 from local stone quarried from Little Eaton, for the princely sum of £1,740. It was consecrated on 22 May 1850 by the Rt Revd John Lonsdale, Bishop of Lichfield (Derby was in the Lichfield Diocese in those days). It was designed in the medieval theme by the architects Barry and Brown from Liverpool and is designed in the cruciform style, with the tower offset in the North East corner.

Years ago it was customary for people to pay pew rents which was a way of reserving the pews for themselves and family. This custom was finally abolished in the 1920's when the Incorporated Church Building Society gave a grant to the church on condition that all the seats should be free. There's a plaque commemorating this inside the north porch.

Derby City Councils Hygiene Centre on City Road which is next door to Tomlinson's.

The Pest Control and the Animal Wardens operate from here

Leisure Services Changing Rooms  at the end of Old Chester Road and City Road, excavations on this site have revealed the changing fortunes of this area in Roman times, in the earliest period Little Chester was packed with timber buildings and stockades belonging to a fort built around 80 AD. These buildings were demolished about 120 AD, when the army abandoned the site, The army returned and built new storehouses about 140 AD, these buildings were demolished when new defences were built around 190 AD.

On the site of the changing rooms, the military buildings were replaced by a blacksmiths forge and an elaborate building was constructed here at the end of the 3^rd century. It had wooden walls slotted into a stone base, the foundations of a similar building are displayed in the gardens on Marcus Street as previously mentioned

These two fine houses can be found on Old Chester Road

As the sign says "City Walk, a development of 37 stylish two bedroomed apartments" this site was formally a tyre centre and before that Chester Green service  station as you can see from the picture below right also note the old St Mary's Goods yard entrance in this picture taken in 1989.

Views in 2005 left and 1989 right and below are similar views in 2006 when work is well under way!

Looking down to the Bridge Inn on the left, this is viewed from the inner ring road, below is the QED motor factors building looking rather dilapidated

Anochrome Jigs above and next door to them is Spring Cottage, below are the old loading bays at St Mary's Wharf more pictures of the Wharf can be found here

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