Chester City Center, England

I lived in Chester from the age of 3 until I went to college at 19. I now live in California, but recently went back for a visit and took lots of photographs (just like an American tourist!) All but one of the photographs in this hub were taken by me. Chester has changed somewhat from when I lived there, but many things haven't.

This is the Town Hall. Inside here is a tapestry that I was part of making in 1978. If you see the elephant, I stitched the eye. I did more than just the eye, but the eye was the memorable part. I've only actually seen the finished tapestry once. Each time I go, it seems that Town Hall isn't open to visitors. I wonder how well kept the tapestry is 30 plus years later. Maybe I'll see it on my next visit.

I was 5 when Prince Charles, who is the Earl of Chester, came to Chester for a visit. I missed school and we stood outside here for what seemed like hours ready to wave a flag when he came out. When finally he did appear he walked out of the door, down the steps and into a car. I did see him, but I very nearly missed him.

Chester Cathedral is the mother church of the Church of England in Chester. Like many cathedrals it's built in the shape of the cross. Inside there is a picture painted on a spider's web. It's a tiny picture with lots of details. I always make sure I have a look at it each time I'm in the cathedral.

In the middle of the noisy city center you can find peace and quiet inside Chester Cathedral. There are high ceilings and an echo that makes you walk slowly and solemnly.

Inside the cathedral is the refectory cafe. I haven't been for years, but it was always a place with wonderful snacks in a calm, quiet environment. It makes money to help with the upkeep of the cathedral, but it doesn't have a commercial feel. The people serving are all volunteers and give the impression they are there because they love being there and not just to raise money.

You can have your drink and snack and imagine what it's was like for the monks to eat their meals there hundreds of years ago. I wonder if they had a vow of silence or if they were allowed to talk at meal time?

Chester is famous for the black and white buildings dating from the mid 19th century. Some are original, but others are more recent and it's hard to tell which is which. Wherever you go look up as each building is different from the next.

This is where from 1983 to 1986 I could regularly be seen busking, playing my flute and earning money to get me through college. Sometimes the shopkeepers got annoyed, but generally it added to the atmosphere of the city. I loved it, but it gave me terrible backache.

These are the rows, something Chester is famous for, and unique to this city. It's shopping on two levels. Behind the rows are entrances to more shops. No one knows whose idea it was originally, but they date from the medieval era.

This is the Grovsenor Hotel and the entrance to what used to be called The Precinct but is now called Grovsenor Shopping Center.

I remember one day there was a bomb scare in The Precinct and the whole complex had to be evacuated, including the hotel. One poor American tourist was in the shower at the time. He walked into the middle of Chester dripping wet with only a towel wrapped round him. It was hours before the police let everyone back in, poor guy!

This is St Peter's Church and The Cross. Every day at noon during the summer the Town Crier shouts his proclamations. There is a bookshop inside St Peter's and more volunteers serving coffee every day except Sunday. Or you can just step inside, sit down in the quiet and rest a while.

This picture and the next picture are what you can see from The Cross.

This is the Eastgate Clock, one of the most photographed clocks in England. The Romans occupied Chester, then called Deva. The city was in the shape of a rectangle with 4 gates: Northgate, Bridgegate, Eastgate and Watergate. Although the walls date from Roman times, the clock is just over 100 years old.

Chester is the only place where the city walls are complete. You can get on the city walls here and walk all the way round, a distance of about 2 miles and a very pleasant Sunday afternoon stroll.

There are three bridges across the River Dee, two road and one foot bridge. This is the Old Dee Bridge. There has been a bridge on this site since Roman times, the original is thought to be wooden.

There are a total of seven arches, all different widths. When they were rebuilding the bridge in the 13th Century, they asked for donations from local people. Seven people contributed, some more, some less. The size of each arch represents the amount of money each person was able to give. They don't make bridges like that anymore, do they?

This is the Suspension Bridge for foot traffic only. I think you are not even allowed to ride your bike across, although I'm sure many do.

The Shropshire Union Canal runs through Chester. I often used to walk home along the canal. It's a lot cleaner now than when I lived there.

I remember going on a horse drawn boat trip along the canal. I heard the horse died and they didn't replace him.

This is a restaurant that serves meals on a boat on the canal. The boat serves a starter as it moves along the canal; it then returns to the restaurant and collects the main course and the sweet, and then travels in the opposite direction along the canal whilst these two courses are being consumed; it then returns to the resataurant while coffee is served. I'd like to try that next time I visit.

I used to enjoy watching the boats go through the locks at Lock Vaults, Hoole Lane. Last time I visited a boat was going through. We just had to stand and watch it. I don't know why it's so fascinating, but it is.