URPoint Details
Chester: a beadle, cathedral, a ghost hunter trail, a terrifying night-time journey around the eerie haunts of the city. England's most complete walled city, founded by the Romans 2000 years ago as a major garrison during their occupation of Britain. Relics abound with archaeological digs still going on. The Roman amphitheatre is the largest in the country.
Cruise the canal (hewn by Victorians for safe but speedy commercial transport); row up the river (the Vikings did). Shop on the Rows, those famous black and white timbered ranks of two tiered galleried shops dating back to the 13th century, unique in the world.
In 1742 Handel rehearsed The Messiah in the cathedral prior to its first public performance in Dublin, his boat to Ireland having been delayed due to bad weather. A copy of his manuscript with score notes is on display.
Of many distinguished visitors over the centuries, Daniel Defoe thought Chester 'a city well worth describing' and as Boswell wrote to Dr Johnson: "I was quite enchanted at Chester so that I could with difficulty quit it." Several days' journey by coach and horses had got him there; today's visitor need only measure the travelling time in hours and
- Type:
- Landmark