Chester has a long and fascinating history, dating from the arrival
of the Roman army around AD 74. Their fortress was the stimulus for
the growth of a prosperous town with such attributes of classical
civilisation as bathhouses, central heating and an amphitheatre.
The fifth-century collapse was followed by expansion under Saxon
Mercia, and the threat of Viking attack was countered by the
creation of a burh. Chester prospered as an administrative and
trading settlement, ultimately benefiting from commercial contacts
with the Viking world. After the Norman Conquest, it became the
capital of a powerful earldom and later Edward I’s headquarters
for his conquest of North Wales. A large abbey dominated the centre
and swathes of land were enclosed in friary precincts. After the
Middle Ages the city lost its harbour to silting and then endured a
long and damaging siege during the Civil War. It escaped full-scale
industrial expansion, although it did suffer from the accompanying
problems of increasing population and poor housing. In the
twentieth century the decision over whether to preserve or replace
its historic core gave the city fathers one of their greatest
challenges. Chester was for many centuries the major urban centre
in north-west England. Despite its varying fortunes the city has
never ceased to engage in the trade and commerce that have given
the place its own special identity. This beautifully illustrated
book explores the city through the ages and looks at the activities
of the people who contributed to its intriguing story.
Archaeologists and historians have attempted to throw light on
those lives and the author has drawn widely from their work, as
well as his own, besides using the surviving historic fabric of the
city, to create a book that will appeal to both resident and
visitor.
General
Imprint: |
The History Press Ltd
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Release date: |
October 2013 |
First published: |
2013 |
Authors: |
Simon Ward
|
Dimensions: |
248 x 172 x 13mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
160 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-7509-5553-9 |
Categories: |
Books >
Sport & Leisure >
General
|
LSN: |
0-7509-5553-8 |
Barcode: |
9780750955539 |
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