Technically Chester is a city as it has a cathedral and was in fact granted city status in 1541. It lies on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, and is home to 77,000 inhabitants.
It’s a very historic town and was founded as a "castrum" or Roman fort with the name Deva Victrix in the year 79 by the Roman Legio II Adiutrix during the reign of the Emperor Vespasian. Chester's four main roads, Eastgate, Northgate, Watergate and Bridge, follow routes laid out at this time – almost 2,000 years ago. One of the three main Roman army bases, Deva later became a major settlement in the Roman province of Britannia. After the Romans left in the 5th century, the Saxons fortified the town against the Danes and gave Chester its name.
Chester was one of the last towns in England to fall to the Normans in the Norman conquest of England. William the Conqueror ordered the construction of a castle, to dominate the town and the nearby Welsh border.
Chester has a number of medieval buildings, but some of the black-and-white buildings within the city centre are actually Victorian restorations. Chester is one of the best preserved walled cities in the British Isles. Apart from a 100-metre section, the listed Grade I walls are almost complete.
The walls are made of sandstone and hence are quite vulnerable to the elements.
Given the age of the town the buildings in the city are of all styles and dates and some are quite grand.
There are many quaint black and white half timbered houses....
Some are very old......
..and incorporate lots of interesting features....
We English are very much into fertility and while I was there the locals were enjoying a bit of giant worship... and as we know it's always nice to have a big one!
One of the interesting features of the shops is that they feature covered walkways raised about eight foot from the ground which are very useful when it's raining although there are a lot of steps.....
4 comments:
It is a truly lovely city - notwithstanding its proximity to the open prison that is Liverpool!
Awesome architecture! Thank you for sharing both the history and your photos, Sunshine! :)
Beautiful pictures and really such unique buildings. We, who live in areas that have no concept of what building preservation really means, should really examine some of these photographs. Thank you for sharing.
Yes, very nice. Thanks Saffy.
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