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Chester
is a popular town for tourists and it is very busy in the
summer - ideal for a stroll around or visit some of the attractions.
The county
town of Cheshire , it gave the county its name. Residents
here are known as 'Cestrians'. Originally called 'Deva',
it was established as fortress in 70 AD by the Roman 20th
Legion. The
city's four main roads ,Eastgate, Northgate, Watergate and
Bridge, follow routes laid out almost 2000 years ago.
Chester's
amphitheatre, build in around 86 AD to hold around 7,000 spectators,
is the largest uncovered Roman arena in the UK.
One of
the three main Roman army bases, Deva later became a principal town
of Roman Britain. After the Romans left in the 5th century
AD, the Saxons fortified the town against the Danes and gave
Chester its name. The Saxon patron saint of Chester, Saint
Werburgh, is buried in Chester Cathedral.
After
the Battle of Hastings, Chester was one of the last towns
in England to fall to the Normans. William the Conqueror
had a castle built to dominate the town and the nearby Welsh
border. In 1071 he created Hugh de Avranches ,known as 'Hugh
the Wolf', 1st Earl of Chester.
Chester
was ruled by Norman Earls until 1237, when the last Earl died.
The title was claimed by Henry III and since then the first
in line to the throne has held the title, so the current Prince
of Wales includes Earl of Chester among his many titles.
Chester
became the largest port in northern England, trading with
Dublin, Scotland and parts of the Continent. At its height
from 1350 to 1450, and the Bristol to Chester road was known
as the Great Irish Road. A Royalist stronghold at the time
of the English Civil War, but was taken by Parliamentarians
troops in 1646 after a two year seige.
From
the mid-18th century, the silting up of the Dee estuary and
the use of ocean-going vesselsled to the decline of the port
of Chester, but the city retained its status as an important
regional trading centre and many elegant Georgian terraces
were built for the wealthy merchants.
The Industrial
Revolution brought railways, canals and new roads to the city,
and the
renewed prosperity saw substantial development - the Grosvenor
Museum and the Town Hall are examples of Victorian architecture.
The famous
Eastgate Clock, which forms part of the city walls, was erected
in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Today
it is the second most photographed clock in the UK , after
Big Ben.
The centre
of Chester remains medieval in appearence and it is the only
city in the UK to have retained its original wall stretching
for two miles around the city.
To the
east and north the city wall is mainly Roman in construction
but refurbished in the early-13th century. The wall to the
south and west -demolished by the Normans - was replaced by
a new longer wall with towers and gateways.
Entirely
open to the public, the City Walls are worth the visit for
the views over the city and surrounding countryside.
Chester
is famous for its 'Rows'. These distinctive black and white
timber-framed buildings date in plan from the 13th century.
The unique galleries, arranged over two levels, house a range
of shops, pubs and restaurants.
The stone
flights of steps lead you to the upper levels, projecting
out into the main streets, some of the oldest shop frontages
in the world can be seen here.
Four
of the streets meet at the 15th century Cross which marks
the historic heart of the city. Although smashed during the
Civil War the Cross was later reassembled.
In the
summer the Town Crier can be seen here at mid-day from Tuesday
to Saturday.
Chester
was recently voted one of the best shopping centres in the
country. As well as the famous Rows, there are two indoor
shopping centres: The Grosvenor Shopping Mall and the Forum
Shopping Centre, and an indoor market.
The Forum
Shopping Centre and Gateway Theatre will be demolished and
replaced with the Northgate Development, due to open in 2009,
with new shopping streets, an indoor market, library and performing
arts centre.
Chester
has a lively nightlife with lots of pubs, wine bars and clubs.
In the summer the city hosts the Chester Mystery Plays which
date from Medieval times, the Chester Midsummer Watch Parade
and the Chester Music Festival.
There
are many things to visit in Chester and it makes a good base
for touring the Wirral Penninsular and North Wales.
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Chester
Chester Races, Chester
