Chester Timeline - Medieval

Springboard into Wales

The story of Chester in the medieval period is closely linked with the English conquest of Wales and Ireland. Chester had been set up by the Normans as an Earldom of the Marches - the disputed lands between the English and the Welsh. Raiding and warfare in Cheshire and to the west had been common until King Edward I decided to throw the full weight of the English armies against Wales.

Chester was the base for his war of conquest which was complete by 1283. Great castles were built in Wales at Conway, Caernarvon, Beaumaris and Harlech to control the newly conquered lands. A constant stream of soldiers, builders, engineers and their materials passed through Chester on their way to Wales, and brought great prosperity to the city.

English attempts to conquer Ireland began at the end of the 12th century under King Henry II. Chester was the main point of departure for the English armies and remained so until the end of the 18th century. Soldiers, officials and administrators all came through the city on their way to Dublin, providing good business for the local traders and giving Chester an importance beyond its size. The British Army still has a strong presence in the Chester area, a survival and reminder of its medieval history.

The key to Chester's prosperity was the River Dee. At the beginning of the medieval period sea-going ships could sail from the city to take soldiers to North Wales and Ireland. Traders came from all over western Europe with goods to be sold in Chester. But slowly the channel of the river began to silt up - the Water Tower, built in 1323 to stand in the river and guard the quayside, was stranded on dry land 100 years later.

For several centuries more the city retained its importance, but ships were forced to load and unload further downstream, at places such as Gayton, Heswall and Parkgate on the Wirral.

During the medieval period, probably in the 13th century, Chester acquired its unique system of Rows - shops at first floor level which are reached from covered galleries facing onto the main streets.

 

 

 [Above] Lead seal of Peter, Bishop of Chester 1075-85. Bishops' seals were normally of silver and were broken on their death.

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