CHES'TER (AS. (-easier, from Lat. casts, camp). An ancient episcopal city, municipal and Parliamentary borough, and river port. the capital of Cheshire. England, on the right hank of the Dee, 2.2. miles from its estuary, and 16 miles southeast of Liverpool (Map: England. D 3). It stands on a rocky sandstone height, the greater part. being inclosed by ancient walls seven or eight feet thick, nearly two miles in circuit, pierced by four gates, and now forming a promenade from which excellent views of the city and vicinity are obtained. The two main streets cross each other at right angles, and were cut out of the rock by the Romans four to ten feet below the level of the houses. The houses in these streets are curiously arranged; the front parts of their second stories, as far back as 1G feet, form a continuo us paved promenade or covered gallery, open in front, and reached by flights of steps from the street below, with private houses above, inferior shops and ware houses below, and the chief shops of the town within. These arcades, called the 'Rows.' to gether with the ancient walls null the half•tim beret' construction of many of the houses, with quaintly carved ornamental gables of the Six teenth Century, render Chester perhaps the most picturesque city in England. The cathedral is an irregular massive structure of crumbling sandstone, with a tower of 127 feet. It was for merly the Church of the Abbey of Saint Wer burgh, which for six hundred and fifty years was one of the richest in England. The cathedral grammar school was founded by Henry VIII. Saint ,John's Church, long in ruins, but partially restored since 186S, is supposed to have been of early Saxon origin. Among other noted buildings are the castle built by William the Conqueror, now used as barracks, the town hall, linen hall, and music hall. There are also many quaint private houses, such as God's Provi dence House. so called from the inscription on it ; Bishop Lloyd's Douse. and Stanley House. The Dee is crossed by three bridges—an old stone one, a suspension bridge, and Grosvenor Bridge. consisting of one superb stone arch of 200 feet span. Chester sends one member to Par liament. Although Chester can boast of great antiquity, it has not fallen behind in carrying out modern improvements, and this has been done with due regard to the quaint architectural fea tures of the city. Electric lighting has been in
stalled; a modern sewerage system, including precipitation works, has been introduced; public baths, markets, a free library, a museum, and a hospital are maintained by the municipality. There are two public parks, and on the Boodee, outside the walls, there is a large race-traek, from which the city derives a considerable profit. Chester has manufactures of lead, iron-foundries, chemieal works, and a ship-building yard. it manufactures hoots and shoes for export. Its principal trade. however. is in cheese, for which it is a famous market. It has an increasing shipping trade. importing metal ores, timber, etc.. mid exporting iron and its manufactures. Chester is the terminus of several railway lines. and the union railway station is one of the finest in (;rent Britain. About three and one-half miles from the city is Eaton Hall, the magniJiccnt seat of the Duke of Westminster. Population, in 1891. 37,105; in 1901, 30,281.
Chester was the Deva of the Romans, the 'Brit ish Caer Lleonvawr, and the Saxon I.egancester or Laegcceaster. It was devastated by Ethelfrid. Mug of Northumbria. in 007, after the massacre of 1200 monks of Bangor Vscoed. who had as sembled to pray for the success of their com patriots. In 828 it was taken by the Saxons. and in by the Ethelred retook it in 901, and rebuilt the walls. Front the Norman Con to the time of llenry 111. the earls of Chester had their own conrts and parliaments at Chester. with eight smbfeudatories and the superiors cif the great religious houses, Chester being then a county palatine. Henry I LI. made his eldest son Earl of Chester, a title held since by the Prince of Wales. In 1128 the town re ceived its first charter. After a long siege (1643 -10) the Parliamentary forces took the city.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 'Howson. "Chester Cathedral," Bibliography. 'Howson. "Chester Cathedral," in of England (Philadelphia, 1895) ; Freeman. "Early History of Chester," in Archa-o logical Journal, Vol. XLI1I. (London, 1886) ; la•h-Szynna, "The Rows of Chester ;" Picton, "The Walls of Chester:" Smith, "The Walls of Chester." in Journal, Vol. XL1V. (London, 1888).