Book
a Hotel in Chester
Situated
about 40 miles west and slightly south of Manchester, and
reached by the M56 Motorway directly, Chester makes a pleasant
and rewarding day trip out of Manchester.
When
Daniel Defoe, author of "Robinson Crusoe" visited Chester,
he described it as "a city well worth describing", and when
James Boswell, another great writer, came to the city in
the 18th century he said "I was so delighted that I found
it difficult to quit". Chester has much to offer by way
of attractions for the tourist.
This 2000 year old city, with its encircling walls, is a
good base from which to tour the Wirral Peninsular and North
Wales.
As the
county town of Cheshire, it is often regarded as Britain's
most outstanding "black and white" city, on account of the
large number of half-timbered medieval buildings which survive
in its centre. Of these, perhaps its unique 13th century
"Rows", half-timbered galleried shops on two levels, are
the most distinctive examples.
The
city is also home to the largest Roman Amphitheatre in Britain,
the proud Victorian Eastgate Clock set on the city walls,
and a magnificent cathedral dedicated to St Werburgh, with
a 900 year old history.
It was
in Chester Cathedral that the first ever performance was
made of Handel's "Messiah". Copies of Handel's original
manuscript are on view in the cathedral. Also available
are cathedral tours and a restaurant which serves lunches
and light refreshments.
On certain
days the city's Town Crier can be heard shouting "Oyez!
Oyez!" around its neat clean streets. Chester was originally
settled by the Romans as the fortress called Deva, named
after the River Dee on which the city stands, and eventually
it was to become one of Britain's largest garrison for Roman
soldiers.
After
the Romans abandoned Britain in the 5th century AD, and
Chester, like most of Britain, fell prey to marauding Viking
invaders. By the 10th century, Aethelflaeda, a daughter
of King Alfred the Great, had moved to Chester, driven out
the Norsemen, and strengthened and extended the city walls.
After
1066, William the Conqueror appointed his cruel nephew,
Hugh the Wolf, as the first Earl of Chester, a title still
held by the monarch's son, Prince Charles, to this day.
Hugh immediately set about building Chester Castle to secure
his title against a largely unsympathetic and subdued populace.
