Web	www.hotelguru.co.uk

home    london    edinburgh    york    oxford    cambridge    bath    chester    history    images

Chester Walls

A Short History of Chester

Founded by the Romans around two thousand years ago, Chester ( Roman name Deva ) was one of the three permanent legionary fortresses in the province of Britain along with Caerleon and York.

The city acted as the lynchpin of the three by combining with Caerleon to give protection against the Welsh tribes and with York to protect against the Scots tribes. During most of this period it was garrisoned by the Legio XX Valeria Victrix or the 20th Legion.

Following the withdrawl of the Romans from Britain the Anglo-Saxons established their presence in the city having defeated the local Celtic tribes in the 7th century. The Anglo-Saxons extended the city walls and half of the circuit seen today dates to this time.

The Normans inevitably gained control of Chester following the invasion of 1066 and were responsible for founding the Benedictine monastery dedicated to Saint Werburgh which is now known as Chester Cathedral.

The medieval period saw Chester become the most powerful city in the region through the trade that came into its port on the River Dee. During the English Civil War Chester was a Royalist stronghold and King Charles watched the defeat of his forces at nearby Rowton Moor from King Charles Tower on the city walls.

The Georgian period witnessed a decline in Chester's fortunes due to a rise in trade to the nearby cities of Liverpool and Machester whilst the building of the Shropshire Union canal failed to industrialise the city. It was during the Victorian era that many of the current Jacobean style, half timbered city centre buildings were constructed.

Today Chester is a popular shopping centre and is famous for the Rows which are essentially first storey galleries of shops. The Roman street pattern is still very much in evidence with names such as Eastgate, Westgate and Northgate whilst a stone cross marks the centre.