Chester, the county town of Cheshire, is noted
for its vast array of historic monuments, including its magnificent medieval
city walls.
Chester's
roots date back to Roman times, and the Vikings, Danes, Saxons, Scots, and
Normans also occupied the settlement at various times. By far the greatest
influence on the city was its maritime trade along the River Dee from the 12th
to 14th centuries, which brought with it commercial and cultural prosperity.
The Old
City has been a conservation area for more than 50 years and retains numerous
well-preserved half-timbered houses, as well as the Rows, its magnificent
two-tier medieval arcades. Add to this mix its attractive bridges, parks, and
riverside walks, as well as the city's many musical festivals and excellent
shopping, and it's little wonder why Chester ranks so highly on England's most
popular places to visit.
1. Chester
city walls
Built mostly of red sandstone,
Chester's City Walls follow the even older Roman walls, except where they
extend to the river to include Chester Castle. The complete circuit - the
best preserved of its kind in Britain - is a nearly two-mile
walk taking in the four main gates: Northgate, Eastgate, Bridgegate, and
Watergate.
At Eastgate, you'll see
a clock erected in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, while at
Northgate, traces of Roman foundations can still be seen.
Another must-see while walking
the walls is King Charles' Tower. It was here in 1645 that Charles I is
said to have witnessed the defeat of his troops at Rowton Moor during the
English Civil War. The tower houses a small civil war museum, and evidence of
the conflict can still be seen at places along the wall.
Other City Wall highlights
include Morgan's Mount, an impressive watchtower; Pemberton's Parlor, a
semicircular tower with great views of the river area; Bonewaldesthorne's
Tower, a solid sandstone Water Tower built in 1325; and Grosvenor Bridge,
adjacent to the Rodee (an ancient horse racing track).
Finally, be sure to visit the
famous Wishing Steps. It's said that anyone capable of running up and
down twice without drawing breath will supposedly see their wishes fulfilled.
2. Chester
Rows (galleries)
Among Chester's most distinctive
features are its galleried walkways, with their many shops running the length
of the old stone and half-timbered buildings. Dating from the 14th century, the
Chester Rows evolved from houses and shops built partly in front of (and partly
on top of) piles of rubble left from the Roman ruins.
These rows are found in all four
of the town's main streets which, following the Roman town plan, meet at right
angles at the market cross. In Eastgate, Bridge, and Watergate Streets, the
galleries are at first floor level, while in Northgate Street they're mostly at
ground level.
3. Chester
cathedral
Chester Cathedral is built on the
site of a much older church dating from AD 958 and a later Benedictine abbey
(part of the old Norman church survives in the north transept). The abbey in
turn became a cathedral when, following the Dissolution, a new diocese was
created by Henry VIII in 1541.
The Lady Chapel and Chapter House
are Early Gothic (post 1240); most of the choir is High Gothic (1280-1315); and
the tower, west front, and upper part of the nave are Late Gothic (1485-90).
While the splendid three-aisle
pillared nave of the Gothic basilica is undoubtedly one of this elegant
structure's most striking features, the west end is also notable for several
features. These include the baptistery, another relic of the Norman church,
which contains a 6th-century Venetian font, and the Consistory Court, which,
though less visually impressive, is nevertheless unique in England.
4. Chester
Roman Amphitheatre
The largest such attraction in
Britain — and one of the top free things to do in the city — Chester Roman
Amphitheatre remains the subject of continual excavation and discovery. As
recently as 2005, excavations revealed two successive stone-built amphitheaters
with wooden seating, one of them similar to that found in Pompeii.
In Roman times, the site was used
for entertainment and military training by the famed 20th Legion, a fact that
is especially impressive as you stand on the very spot where such activities
took place some 2,000 years ago.
5. Cheshire Military Museum
Located in Chester Castle, the
Cheshire Military Museum tells the story of the four famous regiments connected
with the area from 1685 to the present day. Among the groups and individuals
featured in the display are Lord Baden Powell, founder of the scouting movement,
and The Cheshire Yeomanry, the last horsed regiment in action during WWII.
Highlights include displays
following the exploits of the Regiments of Cheshire, their travels across the
world, and the wars in which they fought, including a fascinating exhibit
focusing on life in the trenches during WWI. The museum also houses the archive
of the Cheshire Regiment, providing information on people who have served with
the regiment.
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