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Chester
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The City of Chester, established as Deva by the
Romans 2,000 years ago on the banks of the River Dee, is
the historic gem of North West England.
It is easily accessed by motorway and rail, and is the
gateway to the castles and coast of North Wales and a
good touring base for the great houses and gardens of
Cheshire and the Wirral.
Chester is the most complete walled city in Britain.
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The original walls were built by the Romans, and today
they offer a two mile walkway around the city
interrupted by historic towers and ancient gates in the
form of imposing stone arches.
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The city walls
walkway. Photo: Judges Postcards
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Another great legacy of Roman times is the Amphitheatre,
the largest stone-built arena discovered in Britain,
with tiered seating for 7,000 people. The Deva Roman
Experience is a vivid introduction to Chester's Roman
origins.
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In the
Middle Ages, Chester was by the far the most
important port in northern England.
Global
trading brought considerable affluence to the city,
and during this period the famous half-timbered
double-decker Rows were built.
These
distinctive promenades line the four roads radiating
from the Cross - they are unique to Chester with
evocative names such as Broken Shin Row and Pepper
Alley.
Chester
Cathedral towers above the city: originally a 10th
Century church dedicated to St. Werburgh, a Mercian
princess, it is the site of a wealthy Norman
Benedictine Monastery and only became a cathedral
after the dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry
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The Cross.
Photo: Judges Postcards |
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Chester is well served by museums
and galleries: Chester Castle is the site of the
Military Museum, and nearby is the Grosvenor Museum with
the Roman Stones Gallery and diorama of the Roman
fortress as it was about AD220.
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Eastgate Clock stands, not surprisingly,
above the Eastgate which is crossed by the
walkway of the city walls. The present
Eastgate was built in 1768-9 and the clock
in 1899 for Queen Victoria's Diamond
Jubilee. Photo: Judge's Postcards
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A
picture map and walking tour guide to the city
is available from the Information Centre - this
is by far the best way to appreciate what the
city has to offer.
The
Industrial Revolution brought canals, railways
and roads to Chester. The Rows and the Cathedral
were restored, and the Eastgate Clock was
erected to mark Queen Victoria's diamond
jubilee.
Chester races take place on
the Roodee Racecourse on the riverside every
month from May to September. Motor racing takes
place at the nearby Oulton Park Circuit, and
there are several boat races on the River Dee.
Chester offers a wide choice
of accommodation in an excellent touring
location.
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Chester Hotels
| Chester Bed &
Breakfast |
Chester B&B |
Chester Self catering cottages, apartments, flats |
Chester Camping
sites, camp grounds, caravan sites |
Hatton
Heath Hotels |
Hatton
Heath Bed & Breakfast |
Hatton
Heath B&B |
Hatton
Heath Self catering cottages, apartments, flats | |
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