Britain’s Most Historic Towns
We will all no doubt be aware that there are plenty of historical town’s throughout Britain. Wasn’t it great though that Channel 4’s Britain’s Most Historic Towns series commenced with our beautiful city. It was a really interesting and fascinating programme. If you didn’t see it you should really try and catch it on Catch Up. You can find a link HERE. You think you know most things about Chester but watching this was an eye opener for me.
I have tried to look up now and then whenever I walk through town. It is so easy to only train our sights to street level and only take in the mass of shops, cafe’s etc. But when you look up there is so much more going on. It is fascinating to see for instance the year’s some of our historic city centre buildings were constructed.
Some time ago while taking photographs for my website, I happened to look up for some reason when I was standing outside the Shropshire pub by the Town Hall. Right next door to the Shropshire of course is where the library used to be. In case you didn’t already know, the library is now situated in the new Storyhouse. And what did I see when I looked above the library windows at street level.
Westminster Coach And Motor Car Works
Westminster Coach And Motor Car Works
It’s amazing in a way that I wasn’t aware of this. Another classic case of not looking up. I have since found out that the old Westminster Coach and Motor Car Works has a façade of elaborately moulded terracotta and red brick. It was apparently built in 1913-14. When you take the time to look at it, you will see that it is a truly magnificent frontage.
Mind you, the period of 1913-14 is, relatively speaking, a mere “few weeks ago” compared with what was presented in the Channel 4 programme Britain’s Most Historic Towns.
Britain’s Most Historic Towns
This programme will now also have us wondering what is below us as much as what is above us. During a walk around Chester Walls on Good Friday we had to step off the Walls by the scaffolding. Little did we know or even consider what was beneath street level. The Britain’s Most Historic Towns programme enlightened us. equally fascinating was the disclosure that each of the Gates had their own Fortress. Where are they? Or, where are the remains of them? Why…..again they can be found underground. More incredible footage showing us below street level.
The Amphitheatre site by Grosvenor Park has always been an impressive venue to visit. I didn’t know that it was the biggest Amphitheatre in Britain though. The scene where the excellent presenter – Professor Alice Roberts – was discussing how a typical night of ‘entertainment’ at the Amphitheatre would have unfolded was remarkable.
Britain’s Most Historic Towns-Chester Amphitheatre
Another myth exploded by the way. In my mind’s eye I envisaged that all Professors looked like Emmet Brown (Christopher Lloyd) from Back To The Future. I never imagined Professor’s could be that young!!
Anyway, I digress.
Another fascinating part of the programme was the announcement that all of the Roodee was under water back in 2AD (I think it was). I was always aware that Chester (or Deva) was a major port before the prominence of Liverpool, but I wasn’t sure where this port could be. As any keen Sunday League footballer will probably now testify, you can now see how the Roodee was permanently under water. In the days when the Roodee was home to something like 8 football pitches, it seemed that the pitches were either under water, or very sodden, no matter the time of the year, or the weather conditions generally.
Places To Visit
In case you haven’t visited my “Places To Visit” page yet, you can see it HERE. You will see more about the Amphitheatre on this page.
As I say, if you haven’t yet seen the Britain’s Most Historic Towns programme yet, click the link above and have a look. You won’t be disappointed.
Many thanks to Channel 4 and to Professor Alice Roberts for such a well presented and well researched programme. I hope you enjoyed making it as much as we enjoyed watching it.
