CHESTER CASTLE

Cheshire

In a town as historically wonderful as Chester the Castle comes as something of a disappointment. This city possesses the most complete medieval town wall in Britain, the unique "Rows" of shops on two levels and remains from the Roman city of Deva.

The Castle was founded here by William I after he attacked the City in 1070.  He soon granted the Castle and City to Hugh d'Avranches who became the first Norman Earl of Chester. The Earls of Chester became Palatine Lords (capable of making laws and raising their own army) and were amongst the most powerful of all barons in England.  This is partly the reason that there are relatively few Castles in Cheshire compared to other Welsh border counties; the Earls had such a steel grip on their county that few others dared erect defences.

In 1237 the power of the Earls of Chester was curtailed by the King and the Castle passed back to the Crown.  Ranulf de Blundeville, one of the last Earls and one of the most powerful, built the gatehouse which is now called Agricola's Tower (somewhat inaccurately as it has nothing to do with the Romans).  This tower is one of the few sizable remaining portions of the great Castle of Chester.

With the subduing of the Welsh Chester ceased to be strategically important and the Castle slowly declined and became the local assize and gaol.  The Civil War changed all that and Chester was captured by Parliament in 1643 then besieged by Prince Rupert in 1644.  His attack failed and a second siege was undertaken by King Charles I himself in 1645.  This siege was of the whole City and lasted for over two years.  In February 1647 the City surrendered and later the same year the plague took a toll of over 2000 victims from the ruined city.  Chester earned the title of "Loyal Chester" when the Restoration occurred, but at a great price.

The Castle was slighted and although it remained as the city gaol almost everything else was swept away when new courts were built in 1793, leaving only the Agricola Tower and a length of wall leading up William I's motte to survive to today.

The few remains of Chester's Castle are owned by English Heritage and the City Walls, remarkable survivors, are the only ones in England where you can walk the whole circuit uninterrupted.

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© Text copyright - Raving Loony Productions, Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
© Photos and Artwork - Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
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2001