Roman Remains in Chester
Chester Walls, you can walk along the top of these!
Ridiculous Roman Romps in Chester!
Bridge over the River Dee in Chester - made famous by Hollyoaks TV series.Over 2000 years ago Chester was an area settled by the Romans and known as Fortress Deva, derived of course from the River Dee. Fortress Deva now lies mostly beneath modern day Chester Today Chester is marked by it's Roman history with it's boundary walls and treasures found through excavations in the area. To start you exploration of Chester's Roman origins check out the fabulous Dewa Roman Experience crammed with Roman finds and recreations of Roman life as it would have been. Then branch out to take in the Roman Amphitheatre, the largest one in Britain and walkable city walls.
Since Roman settlement Chester has been through many evolutions, including coming under siege during the Civil War and devastation on trade as a result of the silting up of the River Dee by the 15th century. With the coming of canals, rail and road and the industrial revolution Chester became prosperous again, coming full circle. www.romans-in-britain.org.uk www.chestertourism.com
Roman Chester - here's where it's at. Interactive stuff for kids, including trying on Roman Armour and trying to walk in it or firing the catapult. Walk onto a recreated Roman Street. Watch out for Roman Soldier re-enactments performed by dedicated researchers in Roman History and marvel at the on-site archaeological dig, with exhibitions showing many of the beautiful Roman finds -including pottery, jewellery and the like.
The Roman Walls around Chester have remained largely as they were in Roman times give or take a few makeovers. They run on for about two miles and you can walk along the top for excellent views of Chester and surrounds. The Grosvenor Museum in Chester often has Roman re-enactments.
Dewa Roman Experience, Pierpoint Lane, Off Bridge Street, Chester, CH1 1NL, 01244 343407. Also, for superb, historically accurate Roman re-enactments and presentations of the lives of Roman Soliders through creative interaction and educational workshops contact Roman Tours Ltd, 20 Bryn Yorkin, Caergwrle, Wrexham, LL12 9HU. Tel: 0870 2427337. Roman Tours provide some of the only full time professional Romans in Britain and are available throughout the year. Look out for their Roman Soldiers in Chester and their new Gladiators of Dewa for 2006, featuring Moose Reiarius and more! Roman re-enactments are a fun way of bringing history alive, and are presented by Roman History enthusiasts who are dedicated to the historical accuracy of such Roman representations. For more information take a look at the Roman Tours weblink to the right!
Move Roman exhibitions to be had at the Grosvenor Museum as well as explorations into Chester's past. Rare Cheshire silver and local art are also on show.
The Grosvenor Museum, Grosvenor Street, Chester CH1 2DD, T: 01244 402008
Chester is a city, you might say, that has 'been through the mill'. Settled by Romans, invaded by Vikings, evolving into Norman stronghold then Medieval Port with a large water tower which was eventually left stranded when the Dee silted over around Chester and the famous Rows medieval shop fronts. The Rows are distinctive black and white half-timbered buildings positioned above street level with covered walkways. All these changes make for an interesting eclectic mix - not to mention Chester's Georgian revival as a place of entertainment and the more recent effects of canals and Victorian prosperity
Chester's medieval cathedral, free to enter, is fantastically complete. It evolved into a cathedral after the dissolution of monasteries by Henry VIII. It's all a bit of a mouthful though, clock this ''In 1541, following the dissolution of the monasteries, it was rededicated as the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chester, the mother church of the Church of England Diocese of Chester''. Umm, and clock those Cathedral Spoons available on-line at the Cathedral Shop. Spectacular stained glass windows though!
Chester Cathedral - www.chestercathedral.com
The Chester Tour, City Sightseeing, t: 01789 294466
Guided Walks, Group Tours, T: 01244 402445
Chester Gateway Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, CH1 2BH, t: 01244 340392 www.chestergateway.co.uk
Canal Trips & Cruises, from the Mill Hotel, Milton Street, Chester CH1 3NF, T: 01244 350035