Walking the county towns
CHESTER
A walled city on the River Dee. The Romans established their major camp of Deva in AD 79, to protect the surrounding fertile land from Welsh tribesman. And other marauders. The cathedral is mainly 14th century, and was a Benedictine Abbey until its dissolution in 1540, becoming the cathedral for the new diocese of Chester the following year.
MATLOCK
Situated on the River Derwent, the name deriving from the Old English meaning assembly. The Heights of Abraham 750ft above the town are said to have been named by an officer who fought under General Wolfe, because of their resemblance to the heights scaled in the capture of Quebec. Thermal springs were discovered in 1698, leading to it becoming a spa town in Victorian times.
LINCOLN
Lindum Colonia, the ‘Fort by the Pool’,the Roman town was a settlement for retired legionary soldiers with its name becoming abbreviated to Lincoln The triple-towered cathedral, built between the 11th and 14th centuries, stands atop a 200ft high limestone plateau overlooking the River Witham
NOTTINGHAM
Nottingham’s history and growth has been influenced by the Saxons Danes and Normans . Life for centuries being centred around the castle initially built by William the Conqueror in 1068. Arkwright set up his first spinning machinery in Nottingham in 1771 converting it to steam power in 1790 The worlds oldest professional football club Notts County and two times European Cup winners Nottingham Forest have their grounds in the city
SHREWSBURY
Situated within a loop of the Severn, Shrewsbury was devastated by the Black Death around 1349. During the English Civil War, Shrewsbury was. Royalist stronghold Prince Rupert establishing his headquarters in the town