Chester City Walls
Overview
In the past, many important towns and cities were defended by walls, but today only Chester has a complete circuit around the city.
The Walls are about two miles long and were first built by the Romans nearly 2000 years ago. They were extended and developed in the Saxon period (10th century). During the 12th century, the Normans rebuilt and extended the Walls so for the first time since the Romans, the Walls formed a completed circuit around Chester. Throughout the middle-ages, Chester was one of the most protected and strategically important cities in the county.
Since then they have been constantly altered, repaired and sometimes attacked. One of the reasons they survive today is because from the 18th century they were no longer needed for defence and were adapted to become a fashionable walk and public amenity.
There is no entry charge to walk on the City Walls and they are open all year round.
Maintenance of the City Walls
We are responsible for the Walls and for many years we, and the previous city council, have ensured the ancient monument is cared for and preserved by co-ordinating general maintenance and major restoration projects. To-date, since we have been responsible for them, around £6m has been spent to ensure the Walls can be enjoyed by generations to come.
All work on the Walls has to be granted permission by Historic England.
Every day of the year a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to care for the City Walls:
