Monday, July 22, 2013

July 17, 2013 - Chester, England

When we stayed in Bristol, England, the apartment owner told us that if we were in the Liverpool area that we should visit the town of Chester, England. We really did not know what to expect other than that he said it was a very ancient town and he knew that we liked history. What a great surprise!

Chester Train StationChester Train Station

Above, the Chester rail station. Chester was begun as a Roman fortress during the Roman occupation of England to defend against the Welsh people. Wales is just 2 miles west of the town of Chester. For the small price of 1 Pound, a bus takes you from the rail station to the center of Chester.

Chester CatherdralGardens of the Chester Cathedral.

Old Wall in ChesterCathedral Entrance in ChesterChester streets with black and white timber buildingsA street scene of Chester. It is one of the few UK cities that still has timber built buildings. Most buildings have been replaced by stone and brick over the years. Below, the Chester Cathedral which was the center of religious life in western England.

Chester CathedralChester City HallEntertainers in Chester squareTown center of Chester. Chester is a walled city that has all its walls still intact. It takes about 2 hours to walk around the old city walls. It is the first walled city we have found with all walls intact since we were in Dubrovnik, Croatia in 1997. Below, along the Dee River flowing through Chester.

Chester Weir on River DeeEdward at Chester Weir on River DeeFeeding ducks and swans on River Dee in ChesterWe decide to take one of the 30 minute boat rides on the Dee River.

Bridge across River Dee in ChesterRowing Club in Chester on River DeeGeorgian Row Houses along the River DeeGeorgian row houses along the Dee River. Below, more of the beautiful homes along the Dee River.

House on the River Dee in ChesterHouses alon the River Dee in ChesterBoat Houses on the River Dee in ChesterNote the nice boat houses on the river below these homes.

Old wooden boat on River Dee in ChesterMany row boats on the river. Actually, rowing racing skulls on the Dee River predates the famous rowing clubs of Oxford by 100 years. Oxford merely modernized and made the racing skulls more efficient. Oxford also introduced single skull racing.

Guest House on River Dee in ChesterBeautiful home built on top of a foundation of a Roman Villa on River Dee in Chester

Above, look closely at the foundation of this lovely home. It is built upon the foundation of a Roman villa that dates from about 300CE.

Park on River Dee in ChesterBlue Crane on River Dee in Chester

Above, Elaine was quick enough to snap a picture of this Blue Crane on the Dee River.

My favorite house/building on River Dee in ChesterElaine’s favorite home on the river. This is still a single family residence!!!!

Coming up on the weir on the River Dee in Chester - time to turn aroundWe reach the dam on the Dee River where the boat makes its turn to return to the dock. The dam was built by the Romans to assure a steady amount of water in this tidal river.

Cute car we saw on the bus tour in ChesterInterestingly painted car from our bus tour of Chester.

City Gate of the Wall River Dee in ChesterOne of the city gates in the distance. This gate is actually a new one built in 1837 because the old Roman gate was not large enough to allow large carriages to enter the city. Below, some of the beautiful black and white timbered houses in Chester.  The leaded glass windows just top it all off.

Beautiful black and white timber houses in ChesterBeautiful black and white timber houses in ChesterStreets of ChesterNice view of Chester through an old city gate.

University of Chester buildingsThe University of Chester.

Old Castle in Chester, EnglandRemains of the Chester Castle. The site was a Roman fortress to defend against the Welsh and later enlarged by the Normans for the same purpose of defending against invasions by the Welsh. Actually, the Welsh people almost never invaded England. Unlike the Scots who fought back and forth battles with the English over the years, the Welsh were happy to simply be left along and live their peaceful lives.

Roodee Horse Racing TracK in Chester, EnglandRoodee Horse Racing Track in Chester. This is the site of the Grand Nationals Championships each year (equal to the Kentucky Derby in the US) and has been a famous horse racing track for longer than Churchill Downs.

Roodee Horse Racing TracK in Chester, EnglandRoodee Horse Racing TracK in Chester, EnglandOld cemetery in Chester, EnglandOld cemetery in Chester. They actually discovered some Roman era graves when they built the road near the cemetery. The Romans were pagan in those days and afraid of the dead so the cemetery was located far outside the fortress walls.

Houses built with the W design for the Duke of WestministerHouses built with a “W” brick design for the Duke of Windsor. He liked this pattern because he could see the “W” in the brick work and commissioned several buildings to be built in the same style. It has been continued in areas of Chester to this day.

Houses built with the W design for the Duke of WestministerHouses built with the W design for the Duke of WestministerCathedral in Chester, EnglandChester Cathedral.

Shops and Restaurants in Chester, EnglandRiver Dee weir - salmon can be seen  jumping at times

Above, the weir (Celtic word for dam) on the Dee River. Salmon can be seen jumping the weir during spawning season.

Shops and restaurants in Chester, EnglandBelow, the shops and restaurants with many small leaded glass windows. Leaded glass was a major industry in Chester in the days before we learned how dangerous lead was.

Restuarant with small leaded glass windowsRestuarant with small leaded glass windowsThe Grosevnor Museum in Chester, EnglandThe Grosvenor Museum of Chester. This is a free museum sustained by the famous Grosvenor family (old English wealth similar to Rockefellers and Vanderbilt's in the US).

Chester, EnglandGeorgian Houses in Chester, England

Above, the Georgian row houses. Always four stories: nursery on the top floor, family bedrooms on the third floor, living area on the ground floor and servant quarters in the basement.

Roodee Horse Race Track in Chester, EnglandLeft, the Roodee Race Track and below a modern house known as the “Ark.”

The modern house built in Chester is called the Ark designThe modern house built in Chester is called the Ark designRoman ruins in Chester, EnglandRemains of a Roman tower.

Canal Locks in Chester, EnglandLocks on the Roodee canals.

Blue Coat Hospital found in 1700Blue Coat Hospital and school supported by the Grosvenor family. A Blue Coat school or hospital was for the support of orphans. There is a boy in a blue coat above the entrance but a little hard to see.

Gates to enter walled city of Chester, EnglandGates to enter the walls of the city.

More Black and White with leaded glass windows in Chester EnglandThe Pied Bull Hotel in Chester, England

Above, the “Pied Bull” Pub? Who knows what that means.

Chester, EnglandChester, England City Hall

Above, the Chester, England city hall.

Canal in Chester, EnglandLeft, the canal through Chester. The canal is a part of the great British Waterways System. There have been extensive canals built in Britain through the years when barge traffic was the main way of shipping goods. Below, some of the more modern housing built outside the old city walls.

Modern buildings and lofts in Chester, EnglandCocoa area of Chester, England.  To encourage drinking cocoa instead of ales by the Quakers

Above, the cocoa area of Chester. Cocoa was promoted by the Quakers as a drink to enjoy rather than alcoholic beverages. Elaine found the Frye Candy Company and thought she might have found a legacy to the Fry name. But, then she found that the Frye Candy makers were Quakers and teetotalers and knew there could be no relation!!!!

Old Mill in Chester converted to hotelOld grist mill converted to a hotel and spa.

View of the canal in Chester, EnglandAnother view of the Chester canal system left and the Chester rail station below.

Chester, England Train StationChester, England Train Station

Chester Cocoa House and Chester canal below.

Chester Cocoa House CompanyCanal in Chester EnglandOld Wall and Gate of Chester, EnglandLeft, gates into the city wall. Below, a crooked house that appears to be ready to fall down.  The ground has shifted over 100s of years.

Crooked building in Chester, England

The Public Baths in Chester, England still a swimming pool

Above, the “Public Baths” in Chester built on the site of the old Roman Baths. It  seems that the Roman always found warm underground springs no matter where they invaded.  The same warm underground springs still operate the baths today. Below, views of the ancient Roman amphitheater built outside the old city walls.

Edward at the Roman Amphitheatre in Chester, England - Not in RomeElaine at the Roman Amphitheatre in Chester, England - Not in RomeRoman ruins Tethering Stone in Chester, EnglandLeft, a tethering ring and chain in the amphitheater. Was it for a bull, a lion, a bear????

2000 year old Roman ruins of Roman Amphitheatre found in Chester, EnglandAltar to Nemesis in the 2000 year old Roman ruins of Roman Amphitheatre found in Chester, England

Above, the box seat for the highest local Roman official. Below, views of the entire amphitheater.

Edward walking in the area where the large seating area would have been in the 2000 year old Roman ruins of Roman Amphitheatre found in Chester, EnglandEdward walking in the area where the large seating area would have been in the 2000 year old Roman ruins of Roman Amphitheatre found in Chester, EnglandCity Gate of Walled City of Chester, EnglandThe Roman Amphitheatre biggest known in Britian with seating of around 7,000 spectatorsEdward at Gate of Walled City of ChesterTo the right of the modern city gate is the small Roman gate into the city.

Picture of what the walled city would have appearedWalls of Roman Fortress built ad 74 and 96 - 9 ft deep and 20 ft wideEntrance of city was expanded on left from the right side to provide room for riding horses and carriages to go through the gate.Another view of the small Roman gate to the right of the modern city gate.

Three Old Arches buildin in 1272 AD still in useElaine in restaurant with black and white timber building in background

Above, Elaine stopping for her usual afternoon wine stop with the white timbered building in the background.

Beautiful black and white buildingThe Victoria restaurant established in 1269

Above, the Victoria Restaurant established in 1269. This building has been a restaurant for over 750 years!

Beautiful architecture in Chester, EnglandClock entrance of Chester, EnglandBeautiful flowers are everywhereNice hanging baskets in Chester, England

Surprise! Elaine found more flowers to photograph.

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