Cheshire
Covering over 900 sq miles, Cheshire sits on the Welsh borders between Lancashire and Staffordshire. The moors of the peak district edge into the east of the county, followed by the Cheshire plains, criss-crossed with canals built during the industrial revolution. Now an important place for narrow boating and pleasure craft.
Chester Cathedral (by Matt Cody)
Cheshire is famous for its many white plaster and black timber-frame houses. It is also home to some of Britain's grandest houses such as Arley Hall, Dunham Massey Hall and Tatton Park.
The capital Chester contains over 550 listed building, spanning from the medieval to the Victorian periods. The town is still encircled by impressive sandstone walls, dating from medieval times and restored in the 18th-c. The walls provide a pleasant walkway, covering a 2 mile circuit around the town, and form the most complete set of town walls in Great Britain. The town contains the famous Rows of Chester, a mix of Tudor and Victorian arcades and two tiered galleried shops along the high street.
'An island farm, mid seas of corn swayed by the wandering breath of mom. The happy spot where I was born.'
County Town: | Chester - distance from London: 209 miles (336 km) |
Nearby Counties: | Derbyshire, Lancashire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Wales |
Train Operators: | Cross Country / London Midland |
Nearest Airport: | Manchester (International) |
Major Roads: | M6, M56, M53 |
Highest point: | Black Hill, 1902 feet (580 m) |
Key Landmarks: |
Alderley Edge, Chester Town Walls |
Rivers: | Dane, Dee, Mersey, Weaver |
County Flower: | Cuckoo Flower or Lady's Smock |
Local Delicacies: | Chester buns - plain yeast buns with a simple sugar and water glaze. Cheshire cheese - fine and crumbly, in three colours, white, red and blue. Chester pudding - suet pudding, steamed and served with blackcurrant jam. |
The Meaning of Cheshire
Cheshire means administrative division of Chester, which itself means the camp or fort, based on the latin term castra. The English originally called it 'Leganchester' meaning the camp of the legions.
Map of Cheshire
North West England
