Roman Chester

Chester has a rich history spanning nearly 2000 years. It was founded in AD 79 when the Roman 20th legion started construction of their fortress, Deva. Established as a frontier outpost to suppress scavaging Welsh tribes, Deva was situated on a sandstone outcrop in a loop of the River Dee. It was also sited at the lowest fordable crossing point and at a natural harbour.

Deva was to become an impressive legionary headquarters. Planned to a rectangular formula, the city's four main streets running from its four main gates,still meet as they were planned over 1900 years ago. Within the 20 foot high walls were the Principia (the H.Q. buildings), the city baths, clubs, granaries, barracks and outside the walls, an 8,000 seat Amphitheatre.

The fortress was smaller than the present day walled area of the city, but Chester is the only city in Britain to be still completely encircled by its Roman walls. When the 20th legion were recalled to Rome is uncertain, but it was near the middle of the 4th century. In the next 500 years, during the Dark Ages, little was documented of the fortress bar that it fell into decay.

Anglo-Saxon

In Anglo-Saxon times, the city was refortified by King Alfred the Great's daughter, Aethelflaeda, Lady of the Mercians. In 907 it is probable that Aethelflaeda extended the older Roman walls to the line of those at present.

It was around this time that the remains of St. Werburgh were brought to Chester, from Handbury in Staffordshire, to protect them form Danish plunderers. The remains became a centre for pilgrimage and led to the establishing of the church of St. Werbugh by the mid-10th Century.

In 1093, the church was turned into a monastery by Hugh Lupus the Norman Earl of Chester. It was not until the dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry VIII in 1540, that the Church was made a cathedral.

With the defeat of King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the throne of England was claimed by William of Normandy.

Due to the level of resistance throughout England, William did not take Chester until 1070. In 1071 he created the Earldom of Chester, one of whom, Hugh Avranches, divided Cheshire between eight barons. William the Conqueror began the building of Chester Castle, which became the seat of the Earl of Chester. After the death of the 7th Norman Earl, John Le Scott in 1237, the Earldom was claimed by the crown. Since 1301, the titles Prince of Wales on Earl of Chester have usually been held by their heir apparent.

Tudor Times

Chester underwent a period of decline in prosperity. The River Dee, a major contributor to Chester's wealth and prosperity, had begun to silt up long before the 1600's. During the 15th century, merchant ships were forced to anchor nearly 12 miles downstream and in the 16th Century the port of Parkgate was established, 10 miles downstream. Subsequent attempts to re-establish Chester as a port failed. Trading in the port declined to the extent that Royal taxation of the city was reduced gradually from £100 to £20.

In 1238, William The Clerk was made the 1st Mayor of Chester. Edward 1st granted Chester to it's citizens in his charter of 1300, which lead to the development of a framework for local government.

The city's government was backed by various guilds of companies that began to develop during the Middle Ages. The guilds were formed to protect crafts and trades. In the late 14th Century, there were 19 guilds, which acted as unions, protecting prices and wages and looking after the interests of their members.

Henry VII's 'Great Charter' of 1506 acknowledged the moves towards local government and granted that the city of Chester be recognised as a county.

It was decided that each of the city's guilds would take responsibility every Whitsun to perform one of the Mystery Plays.

The Plays, it is thought, originated to make the teachings of the Bible more intelligible to the people of the city. They were performed on a two tiered horse drawn wagon so that different plays could be staged at different locations within the city. The plays were performed on three days in the week of Whitsun. Nine were performed on a Monday, nine on a Tuesday with the remaining 6 or 7 on the Wednesday. In 1557, the plays were banned by the Archbishop of York for being popish plays. This and rising puritan feelings in Chester meant that 1575 was the last time that the plays were performed. The plays have since been revived, although not in the original form.

Civil War

In 1642, Chester was involved in the Civil War. The puritans of the city were backed by Cromwell's Roundheads, but the Royalists backed by the Gamull family, controlled the city. The city exiled a local, Sir William Brereton, for attempting to raise troops to fight the King. Chester is sometimes referred to as "Loyal Chester" because of it's backing of the monarchy at this time.

Charles I stayed in Chester and watched the defeat of his Royalists by Parliamentarians at the Battle of Rowton Moor in 1645. Charles fled via the River Dee, but was eventually caught in the south of England. Chester was placed under siege and eventually surrendered in 1646 to the forces of Oliver Cromwell, due to starvation and plague.

Chester Up To Date

The Rows have been a major feature in the city centre of many years. The earliest record of these unique two tiered shopping walkways occurs in the city's records of 1331.

Nicholas Pensner wrote of Chester that it was a Victorian, not Medieval City, that is, it was able to deceive because its facades accurately imitated those of former times.

The Grosvenor Bridge was built in 1832 and was officially opened by Princess Victoria. Chester's Cathedral was restored during the 19th Century by the architect Sir Gilbert Scott, who added battlement parapets and flying buttresses to enhance its appearance. Indeed, much of Chester's architecture was rebuilt in the later half of the 19th Century.

The Industrial Revolution left its mark on the landscape around Chester. A network of canals, railways and roads changed the face of the landscape around the city.

Chester today has so much to offer; enjoy the history around the city's ancient walls; shop in the bustle of the rows; stand in Britain's largest amphitheatre; partake of the atmosphere at the country's oldest horse races and enjoy all the this attractive and fascinating piece of England has to offer.

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