CHESTER, an ancient and populous city of Eng land, the capital of Cheshire. It is situated in the hun dred of Broxton, at the distance from London of 181 miles, by Coventry and Newport ; by Litchfield of 190. It is thus placed near to the southern boundary of the county, where it stands on a rocky eminence above the river rice, by a sweep of which river it is half encircled. It consists principally of four streets, running from a centre towards the four cardinal points, and each termi nated by a gate in the walls, by which the city is sur rounded. In respect of the curious structure of these streets, it is called by Mr Pennant a city without a pa rallel. They are excavated from the rocky soil to the depth of one story beneath the level of thc ground, a circumstance which has been the cause of a singular con struction also in the houses. On the level of the streets there are low shops or warehouses, and above them is a gallery on each side, which cxtenas from street to street, being open in front, and balustraded. These galleries, called by the inhabitants Rows, are very uncommon surprising to strangers, wno, when walking in them, can hardly divest themselves of the idea that they arc up one pair of stairs. Along the rows are ranges of shops, and above them the higher stories, which project to the streets, forming a line with the shops situated be low. The whole appears as if the first stories of all the houses were laid open, and made to communicate Path each other, pillars only being left for the support of the superincumbent structure. The principal streets are intersected by various lesser ones, which cross the others at right-angles, so that the inclosed spaces are divided into several smaller squares. The kitchens and back courts of the houses are on a level with the galle ries, while carriages drive about eight feet below; and it is necessary for those who would go from their own houses into any of the principal streets, to descend into them by a flight of several steps. Owing to this singular sort of construction, though such as walk on foot are screen• cd from rain, the shops are at the same time rendered dark and inconvenient ; and not only they, but the peo ple also who arc walking in the rows, are so hid, that one would imagine there were scarcely any inhabitants in it, though really it is very populous. The buildings of the city are in general ancient, but owing to the inter spersion among them of some new ones, the whole has rather a motley appearance. Those of the churches that are principally entitled to notice, arc the Cathedral, St Oswald's, and St John's ; besides which, there are in the city seven other parish churches, which, as buildings, however, present notning particularly deserving of at tention. The cathedral is a spacious irregular pile, that
is become ragged through the decay of the mouldering stone with which it is built. The lower part of the wall has a row of arches, now filled up, and appears to be the oldest part of the present edifice, though none of it in deed can boast of a remote date. All the labours of the Saxons on this spot, and almost all those of the refounder of the building, Hugh Lupus, are now lost. Simon Ripley, elected abbot in 1483, finished the middle aisle of it and the tower, and the initials of his name are in tcrlaid in cyphers on the capitals of some of the pillars. The columns arc thick, surrounded by pilasters, with small rounded arches. Above is a gallery, with a neat stone balustrade in the parts where it is entire, and a row of large and broad-pointed windows. With the excep tion of these slight fragments, most of the present struc ture seems to have been built in the reign of the three last Henries. The beautiful west end was begun in 1508, when the first stone was laid with much ceremony. The window over the door is filled with elegant tracery, and the door-case enriched with figures and other sculpture. The descent into the church is by several steps, whence it is reasonably inferred, that the present was erected on the foundation of the ancient church, which was origi nally on a level with the old streets. St Oswald's church forms a part of the Cathedral. St John's stands with out the walls on the east side of the city, and is report ed to have been founded by King Ethelred in 689, when he had been admonished in a vision to erect it on a spot where he should find a white hind. It was a collegiate church, and, at the dissolution, was possessed by a dean, seven canons, seven vicars, two clerks, four choristers, and various servants. St Peter's church is in the centre of the city, and had formerly a lofty spire steeple. St Bridget's, on the west side of Bridge street, is neat and convenient, opposite to which is St Michael's, which, of late, has been much enlarged and beautified. Trinity Church, which has undergone similar improvement, stands in Watergate Street : Its handsome spire has been lately taken down. St Mary's, which is situated in the south-west part of the city, has several very handsome monuments. St Olave's stands in the lower part of Bridge Street, opposite to Castle Street ; and St Mar tin's at a place called the Ash : There arc also several meeting-houses, public charity schools, and alms houses. The meeting houses of the Independents and Methodists are modern, and particularly elegant.