Chester

Chester is a city located in the North West of the UK.  This website is devoted to Chester, in photographs and video, and information about the city, modern and historic.

Chester is a place where history and modern life coexist. The only city in Britain that has a complete city wall, it has a comprehensive shopping district housed in the old medieval streets. Shops can be found on two levels, known as "The Rows". The city can trace it's roots back to the Romans in 79AD, standing on the Welsh border it has been of strategic importance, militarily and economically, for centuries.

Today Chester is a financial centre. A number of important commercial institutions have administrative offices in the city.  And it still stands as a gateway into the beautiful country of North Wales and to Ireland beyond. It is a great place to stay and explore both the city itself and the wonders of North Wales and Englands North West. There are a number of comfortable hotels located within and on the outskirts and transport links are easy by road and rail.

To get an impression of the city of Chester browse these pages, or dip into the pictures using the thumbnail collection on the right. This collection is a random selection of photographs that changes each time a new page is viewed. Or look at the video to get a short snapshot of what the Chester photograph gallery and the city have to offer.

Chester: History, Photographs and Video

In the Chester pages you will find more detailed information about the city. It's origins and evolution

• Chester:an introduction: sets the scene for the following pages about this historic city.
• Chester Map: An interactive map of the city centre with photgraphs of Chester, wall access information and car parks.
• Chester: Things to do in Chester: A compilation of places to visit in and around the city.
• Chester:The Roman Period: gives a brief illustrated history of the period when Chester was an important hub on the outer fringes of the Roman Empire, illustrated with photographs of modern Chester
• Chester: The Dark Ages: an illustrated look at the history of Chester and it's walls in the context of events that shaped England in the Dark Ages. The strengthening of the walls, the stablishment of churches and the plundering by Viking raiders.
• Chester:The River Dee: here you will find information about the river Dee and it's importance to the growth of Chester and as a picturesque haven from the bustle of everyday life
• Chester Rows: Chester's city centre is home to the unique Row's. A two level arrangement of shops and buildings that are an essential part of the history and fabric of Chester. Here you will find a brief history, descriptrion and pictures of this phenomenon.
• Chester Cathedral: Chester's Cathedral nestles into the medieval street pattern of the walled city. A brief history of the church, the building and it's preservation over the centuries.
• Chester Photographs: A brief explanation of the photographic gallery at the core of this web site.
• Chester:a video portrait: A short video of Chester using images from the picture gallery.

The Gallery of Chester Photographs

The gallery is a photographic portrait of the city. Most images have been taken recently. They convey something of the accessible beauties of the city and some more obscure places that need a little more time to discover.

You can click on the links below, on the tab at the top of this page or on the random selection of images from the entire gallery on the right hand side bar.

• Chester, Setting the Scene: Photographs giving a brief overview of the city and wher it stands alongside the River Dee.
• Chester, river and canal: Images of the river Dee an important part of the success of historical Chester and the Shropshire Union Canal, important until the coming of the railways.
• Chester, the Rows: An album of pictures showing the unique double floors of shops that line the four principal streets in the city centre. Many of the buildings are medieval or Victorian constructions following the pattern of the earlier buildings.
• Chester, the walls and amphitheatre: Photos of the walls and Roman remains. The only city in Britain with a complete city wall. It is a great way to walk around the city centre. The amphitheatre, beyond the city walls was the largest such construction in the British Isles. Though little remains today it is a potent indication of how important this location was to the Romans.
• Chester Zoo: Photographs of Chester Zoo including visitor facilities, the architecture, animals and the gardens. This collection of Chester Zoo Photographs is a snapshot of what the visitor can expect to see at Chester Zoo.

The 82 decorated Rhinos have made onto the streets of Chester and some further afield. The largest number are to be found in the city centre and are easily found on foot with the aid of the location map that can be downloaded from the Rhino Mania website or picked up in Chester Tourist Information in Town Hall Square.

Created by public art company Wild in Art. The designs on each of the 60 kg 6ft long fibreglass Rhinos have been created by local artists, community groups and schools, and the work sponsored by local businesses and organisations. In addition more than a hundred smaller Rhinos have been decorated by local schools.

Work is underway on the mural that will decorate the wall crossing Chester's roman Amphitheatre. Mural artist Gary Drostle from Woowich, London has completed murals of Roman Britain before when he created a vision of the now largely lost Roman Wall of London in the branch of Starbucks on London Wall. The intention is to depict what the amphitheatres currently hidden half would have looked like and how the building as a whole would have been through the ages up to the present day.

Totesport Day at Chester Races saw a good crowd of racegoers decend on the Roodee course on a hot humid afternoon on the 10th July. Races included the £37,000 City Plate and City Wall Stakes.

The 35th annual Chester Raft Race ran on the morning of 4th July. Taking place on the River Dee between the Grosvenor Boat House and the Old Dee Bridge. Over 40 rafts battled against each other and the wind to compete for a series of prizes.

Organised by Chester Rotary Club in aid of the Help for Heroes charity. This years theme, "Great Historical Events through the Ages", saw competitors paddle against a strong head wind down stream from the Earl's Eye meadows, over the weir to the Old Dee bridge and back again. Running the gauntlet of water pistols, water and flour bombs thrown by fellow contestants and spectators.

Choirs from Chester and all over the North West and North Wales decended on Chester for the Chester Big Sing event. Part of Chester's Chestival series of summer events. Choirs circulated between four locations in the city centre. Performing a set of songs at each. Venues were the Chestival stage in the Town Hall Square; The Cross; outside Browns Department store, favourite spot of many a busker; and beneath the Cathedral Bell Tower.

Chester's Rhino Mania event was launched on the Racecourse in front of 300 invited guests on Thursday 1st July 2010. Prior to the placement of the 62 large Rhinos around the city and at travel gateways further afield. The Rhino Mania event itself begins on 5th July and runs until the 12 September. A leaflet is available showing the locations of the artwork and people are encouraged to go and see as many as possible and to sample the delights of the rest of the city as they do so.

A celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Tom Rolt. Father of the Inland Waterways Association. Vintage car and heritage train enthusiast.

Professional cycle racing came to Chester for the second year with the Halfords World Series. The ninth and penultimate race in the series. Ten cycle teams raced 25 laps of the city centre circuit. With the start and finish in Town Hall Square.

A 30 minute musical version of Noah's Flood from the Chester Mystery Plays. Last performed in 2008. The 1997 performance was performed by 200 people. Taking place in the newly refurbished amphitheatre it was a fitting, if not a little dusty, place for the production to take place. The Mystery plays are a melting pot of religion and everyday life. Originating in the Middle Ages they were street plays full of humour.

The Chester Midsummer Watch parade dates back to 1498 and took place in the years between performances of the Chester Mystery Plays. The 1564 procesion is said to have included:

4 gyants, 1 unikorne, 1 dromodarye, 1 luce, 1 camell, 1 dragon, 6 hobbyhorses and 16 naked boys

The parades were continued until the late 17th century and revived in 1995 as a major event in the city calendar.

Taking place on 4 days between the 15th and the 19th of June. Chester played host to Town Criers from around the world. Competing in the Chester World Town crier Tournament were competitors from Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand, as well as criers from all over the UK.

Performing on the Chestival stage in Town Hall Square, Chester and on Friday at Cheshire Oaks. The criers compete in three preliminary competitions before the top 12 from the week compete for the tournamant title on Saturday morning.

This heart warming competition brought an air of grace and good will to a sunny city centre. An excellent photo opportunity for all who attended. The video shown here was taken on the second day of competition when Criers had to promote their home town. The Photographs of the Chester World Town Crier Tournament were taken over two days.

Chester's Roman Weekend started the cities summer festival of music and events. With a living village in Grosvenor Park. Military displays and Gladiator combat in the amphitheatre. Dancing in the Town Hall Square, exhibitions and talks in the Grosvenor museum and on both days a march from St John's Church, through the rows to the Town Hall where a proclamation was made from the Town Hall steps.

The sixth Coutts International Polo Weekend took place on Friday 4th and Saturday 6th of June. Taking place on Chester Race courses Polo ground. Sunshine was enjoyed on both days broken only for a short shower on the Friday. International teams competed for the £10,000 prize over the two day event.

Here is a collection of photographs of this years Coutts International Polo Weekend

As a historic but modern city, Chester has many attractions to entice the visitor. You can spend time investigating Chester history by touring Chester Walls, by visiting the Chester Visitor Centre, The Grosvenor Museum or the Dewa Roman Experience. By sight seeing at Chesters Medieval Cathedral and touring Chester Rows the historic shopping streets with their unique double levels of street side shops. 

Shopping is one of the Chester attractions particularly well served. As a visitor destination Chester shops cater for all with a wide selection of national and local retailers providing everything from fashion to food. In addition to the fabulous Rows there are two modern shopping centres. The Grosvenor Shopping Centre is embedded within the historic rows and the Forum Shopping Centre gives access to Chester Indoor Market where there are butchers, fishmongers, cheesemongers, fruit and vegetable merchants, clothing and more.

Chester has a vibrant night life with many bars, pubs, restaurants and night clubs. A walk along Watergate Street and it's rows will reveal a number of welcoming bars and restaurants serving a variety of food from around the world.  On nearly every street in Chester you will find a different eating establishment to wet your appetite. At present for film entertainnment the only city cinema is the Cineworld cinema on the Greyhound Retail Park on the outskirts or the Vu cinema at Cheshire Oaks on the outskirts of Ellesmere Port.

Visitors can take advantage of number of tour buses that circulate throughout the city. Giving a narrative as they progress. These link up with boats on the river in the Groves where you can take a trip along the River Dee.

One of Chester's main attractions is Chester racecourse. Near the city centre and river on a stretch of land called the Roodee. In addition to the racing callendar there are many annual events hosted on the Racecourse like horse jumping, vintage car ralleys, circuses and firework spectaculars, as there are in and around the streets of the city centre itself. Events like the Roaming the Rows street art project.

On the outskirts of the city lies Chester Zoo. Home to over 7000 animals it is the UK's largest Zoological gardens. A great destination for any weather.

Beyond Chester there are the delights of North Wales, The Cheshire plains, the Wirral and Liverpool and Manchester to explore. Chester lends itself as a great centre for exploring England's North West. 

At Ellesmere Port 8miles(13km) from Chester is Cheshire Oaks a large retail outlet. The Boat Museum devoted to the history of the extensive canal network in the area. And Blue Planet Aquarium which features a huge walk through aquarium.

Click here for a more thorough list of things to see in Chester