Chapter I: Front Matter

[Picture: Book cover]

[Picture: Chester, from Curzon Park]

THE
STRANGER’S HANDBOOK
TO CHESTER

AND ITS ENVIRONS;

CONTAINING

A SHORT SKETCH OF ITS HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES,

A Descriptive Walk round the Walls,

AND

A VISIT TO THE CATHEDRAL, CASTLE, AND EATON HALL.

BY THOMAS HUGHES.

WITH THIRTY-FOUR NEW ILLUSTRATIONS, BY GEORGE MEASOM.

* * * * *

“My guide, philosopher, and friend.”

* * * * *

ENTERED AT STATIONERS’. HALL.

CHESTER:
THOMAS CATHERALL, BOOKSELLER, EASTGATE ROW.
LONDON: WHITTAKER & CO., AND WARD & LOCK.

* * * * *

LONDON:
BRADBURY AND EVANS, PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS.

* * * * *

TO
EDWARD HAWKINS, ESQ., F.R.S. & F.S.A.,

KEEPER OF THE ANTIQUITIES IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM

AND A “CHESHIRE MAN” WITHAL,

THIS NEW

STRANGER’S HANDBOOK TO THE CITY OF CHESTER

IS,

WITH A LIVELY SENSE OF HIS UNIFORM KINDNESS AND FRIENDSHIP,

GRATEFULLY DEDICATED BY

THE AUTHOR.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. PAGE Introduction.—The City of Chester under the Britons.—Chester 1 a Roman Colony.—The City a prey to the Danes and Saxons.—Ethelfleda the Amazon.—Chester under the Normans.—The Palatinate Earldom.—Royal Visits to Chester.—The Plague.—The Siege of Chester. CHAPTER II. The Railway Station.—Chester the Terminus of Six 10 Railways.—Flookersbrook.—Lead Works.—Canal and Bridge.—William Penn, the Quaker.—Foregate Street, and the old Watling Street.—Post-Office, and Old Bank.—The East Gate, Roman and Mediæval.—The East Gate of To-day CHAPTER III. The Walls of Chester, their Builders, and their History.—The 18 Cathedral.—The Phœnix Tower, and the Walls during the Siege.—Beeston Castle.—The North Gate.—Training College.—Morgan’s Mount, and Pemberton’s Parlour.—The Water Tower.—Infirmary, and Gaol.—Linen Hall.—The Water Gate CHAPTER IV. The Walls, continued.—The Roodeye.—Chester Races.—The Castle 31 of the Olden Time, and the Castle of To-day.—The Grosvenor Bridge.—Cæsar’s Tower.—Handbridge, and Edgar’s Cave.—Bridge Gate.—Dee Mills and Bridge.—Causeway.—Queen’s Park, and Wishing Steps.—The Newgate and its Traditions.—The East Gate CHAPTER V. The Streets of Chester.—East Gate Street, and Royal 43 Hotel.—The Ancient Rows of Chester.—An American’s “Notion” of them.—The Architecture of the Rows and Streets.—The High Cross.—The Pentice, and Conduit.—The City Bull-bait.—St Peter’s Church CHAPTER VI. Watergate Street.—God’s Providence House.—Bishop Lloyd’s 54 House.—The Puppet Show Explosion.—Trinity Church.—Dean Swift and the “Yacht.”—St. Martin’s and St. Bridget’s Churches.—The Stanley Palace.—Watergate.—Port of Chester CHAPTER VII. Bridge Street.—Ancient Crypt.—The Blue Posts and the Knave 64 of Clubs.—Roman Bath.—Grosvenor Street.—New Savings’-Bank.—The Cemetery.—Curzon Park, and Hough Green.—The Port of Saltney.—St. Michael’s Church.—St. Olave’s Church.—The Gamull House.—St. Mary’s Church CHAPTER VIII. North Gate Street.—Commercial Buildings.—The Rows.—The 79 Exchange.—Music Hall and Old Theatre.—Chester Cathedral.—St. Oswald’s Church.—The Cloisters, and Chapter House.—Promptuarium.—Refectory and King’s School CHAPTER IX. Abbey Square, Deanery, and Palace.—The Abbey Gates.—Chester 95 Market, and Abbot’s Fair.—North Gate, and Old City Gaol.—St. John’s Hospital, and Blue School.—Newtown, and Christ Church.—Railway Tunnel.—St. Thomas Chapel.—Training-College CHAPTER X. Llwyd, the Welsh Antiquary.—Chester Fair.—Tennis Court and 106 Theatre.—The Justing Croft.—The Bars.—Steam Mills.—Ragged School.—Boughton, and St. Paul’s Church.—The ’Spital, and George Marsh.—Roman Altar.—John Street, and Mechanics’ Institution.—Roman Catholic Convent.—St. John’s Church, and its Ruins.—Jacob’s Well, and the Anchorite’s Cell.—The Groves, and the Dee CHAPTER XI. The River Dee.—Chester Rowing Club.—The Earl’s Eye.—Villas 119 on Dee Banks.—The Water Works.—Eccleston.—Eaton Lodge, and Iron Bridge.—Eaton Hall.—The Grosvenor Family.—Belgrave Lodge.—The Interior of the Hall.—Eaton Gardens.—Grosvenor Lodge