Vacation in Chester
by Maria Williams
HistoryChester is an old city dating back approximately 2000 years to Roman times (when parts of the City wall date from) when it was known as Deva. They built it as a fortress for Legio XX Valeria Victrix, the 20th Legion, safe in the loop of the River Dee and used it as a port and defence from the Welsh Celts. It was then the principal town of England, with many relics remaining today, including the weir on the river to keep water levels high and stop ships going too far, the 'cross', where the four main streets intersect, as well as remains of a strong room and hypocaust system underneath shops and, controversially, half of its original amphitheatre, with the other half built over. The Roman Empire fell three hundred years later. In AD 605 or AD 606 king of Northumbria defeated a big Celtic army at Chester and established the Anglo-Saxon position in the area. The Saxons extended and strengthened the walls of Chester to protect the city against the Danes. After the 1066 Norman Conquest, Chester Castle was built as another defense from the Celts. Along with this, the Normans built what is now Chester Cathedral. In the Georgian era, the city became again a centre of affluence, a town with elegant terraces where the landed aristocracy lived. This trend continued into the Industrial Revolution, when the city was populated with the upper classes in amongst the industrial sprawls of Manchester and Liverpool. The Duke of Westminster who owns an estate at Eaton near the village of Eccleston owns a considerable amount of land in Chester. Grosvenor is the Duke's family name. In 1969 the City Conservation Area was designated. Over the next 20 years the emphasis was placed on saving historic buildings, such as The Falcon Inn, Dutch Houses and Kings Buildings. On January 13, 2002, Chester was granted Fairtrade City status.Place Of InterestIn a big Victorian building opposite the Roman amphitheatre, is the largest uncovered amphitheatre in Britain. The center has a gift shop and a licensed restaurant serving meals and snacks. Admission is free. In the center of town much-photographed Eastgate clock is situated. Another interesting activity is to climb the nearby stairs and walk along the top of the city wall for a view down on Chester - Passing through centuries of English history, the River Dee, formerly a major trade artery, and many 18th-century buildings. The wall also goes past some Roman ruins, and it's possible to leave the walkway to explore them. The walk is charming and free. Eastgate Street is now a pedestrian way and musicians often perform for pleasure beside St. Peter's Church and the Town Cross. The Rows are double-decker layers of shops, one tier on the street level, the others stacked on top and connected by a footway. The upper tier is like a continuous galleried balcony.Museums
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