Hoole Community Centre

Hoole Community Centre is in an old primary school building, and lies in the centre of Hoole. It has many activities, both daytime and evening, plus a nursery school and a community library. Rooms are also available for hire, and the main hall hosts musical events regularly - I've been to several ceilidhs there. http://www.hoolecommunitycentre.org.uk/

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Dewa Roman Experience

Dewa Roman Experience is on Bridge Street, just off the main thoroughfare. It is directly above some archaeological excavations, which have been left open so that you can go and view them, and there are also reconstructions of what life was like in a Roman city. http://www.dewaromanexperience.co.uk

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Upton Cock Pit

There is a small corner of Upton that is known locally as the Cock Pit. Originally in the grounds of the Victoria Hotel, the patch of land is now leased by the council. Although it is called the Cock Pit, there is only anecdotal evidence that it was ever used for this purpose, although the dip in the ground and the shape make it reasonably likely.

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Upton Park

Upton Park was an ambitious green field housing development started in the 1850s and is now a Conservation Area. The numbering scheme for the houses in the road can be a little confusing, as they tend to be scattered around rather than in order. I was told (but can't confirm) that even the post box has a house number.

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Upton Mill

Before this windmill wasbuilt in 1775, locals used the watermill at Bache Pool. The miller was William Carter who was succeeded by his son-in-law Edward Dean who developed the family bakery business and moved out to Saltney. Demolition of the mill in the 1950s was opposed by local residents and, after some 20 years of various uses, the mill, minus its' sails, was converted into a home. It stands on the corner of Upton Park.

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13th Century Grave Slab

In the Cathedral cloister is a 13th century grave slab. No-one knows who it contained, and, although we know it came from beneath the floor of Cathedral, there is no evidence as to its' exact location. The cross on the slab is The Cross of Glory. Its shaft is transfixing a coiled snake, the symbol of evil.

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Roman Brooches

The Grosvenor Museum has a collection of Roman brooches, found in and around Chester. Brooches were used to secure clothing and were made in a variety of different styles. Most basic was the bow brooch, where a long pin was coiled into a spring at one end and fitted under a catch at the other. More elaborate types were disc and plate brooches. These could be decorated with pieces of inlaid glass or enamel and made into a variety of different shapes. Zoomorphic brooches were shaped and decorated to look like animals and birds. Birds in particular had a religious symbolism and were associated with the gods of healing and fertility.

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Blackbeard's Tea Party

We went to the Bear and Billet last night, to watch Blackbeard's Tea Party. An excellent live band, and one I would highly recommend (see http://www.blackbeardsteaparty.com). This weekend has been really good for live music locally, and I was struck by how much talent there is around. Chester is developing a number of good small venues, and it is now possible to go to a live music event pretty much every night of the week.

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Moorhens

All along the banks of the canal you can hear the peep-peep-peep of tiny ducklings, and some of them are appearing with their mothers. No baby moorhens yet, but there should be some soon, if this nest is anything to go by.

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Lock Keepers Cottage

At the top of the staircase locks that lead down to Telford's Warehouse and the canal basin is this lock keepers cottage. Originally inhabited by someone who had responsibility for the locks, I am not sure who lives there now. However, the last time I looked at an electoral roll for the area, I was delighted to learn that the occupant was one Davy Jones.

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Cheshire Honey

Along with salt and cheese, Cheshire produces local honey, and used to be famous for it. Now the bees are under threat, from neonicotinoids, Monsanto, disease, and the poor weather we have had for the last couple of years. Savour our honey, it may be the last.

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Roman Mosaic Floors

Chester was a Roman city with many buildings, there would therefore have been various types of flooring. Plain cement floors (opus signinum) were made from fragments of broken tile. Tiled floors were made with small tiles either laid flat or on their edge in a herringbone pattern. Tessellated floors were made of small cubes of ceramic tiles, and mosaic floors were made of small multicoloured cubes laid out in a series of patterns or scenes. Mosaic cubes were made out of coloured stones, tile, pottery, and even glass. Shown below, from the Grosvenor Museum, is a small section of mosaic floor, and some of the constituent pieces.

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Corporate Headquarters

The building shown in the photo below, originally part of Western Command, was bought by Capital Bank and converted for use as their corporate headquarters. Capital Bank then turned into the Bank of Scotland, which became HBOS, which was subsumed into Lloyds TSB. In all of this shuffling the building became redundant and now lies largely empty. Latest rumour is that it is to be converted into a large hotel...

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Mill View Primary School

Mill View is a local primary school with the motto 'Good Things Grow Here', which, as you can see if you look carefully at the photo, they take very seriously. They have a section of the playing fields fenced off, with a polytunnel, shed, and raised beds. They also keep hens, as well as educating children.

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Bishop Nicholas Stratford

Chester began to have a bishop in 1541, and we are now on our fortieth. They are commemmorated in various ways around the cathedral. Nicholas Stratford (1689-1708) has a stained glass window in the cloisters, showing the Bluecoat school/hospital, which he founded.

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Dollectable

Down on Lower Bridge Street is a shop called 'Dollectable'. It must be the least profit-conscious shop in Chester, with the shortest opening hours. In all my years of wandering past I have only ever seen it open once. Nevertheless, it continues to exist.

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John Douglas

John Douglas was the architect responsible for many of Chester's buildings, including the famous Eastgate Clock. He was born, trained, practised for over 50 years, and died locally. He, probably more that any other individual, has left his mark on the city. The building below is in Abbey Square, and housed his architectural practice.

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Spring Flowers

Spring flowers around Chester seem to be lasting a very long time in excellent condition this year, because, I think, the days have been so cold and bright. The sunshine seems to make the flowers glow, and they are especially beautiful.

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Bandstand

As well as the suspension bridge being refurbished, the bandstand in the Groves has also had a lick of paint, and, more importantly, a new floor, as the old one was so rotten that band members were in danger of disappearing through it.

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Queen's Park Bridge - Repainted

The repainting and repair of the suspension bridge has now been completed, and it was sparkling in the sunshine yesterday.

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Trustee Savings Building (now Convivio)

The architect James Harrison won a competition in 1847 for a design for a savings bank in Tudor style; the building opened six years later. It makes for a memorable Grosvenor Street corner, although the TSB abandoned it in the eighties, and it is now a restaurant.

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Waterstones Meet The Author

Waterstones in Chester are having a meet the author session. More details below:

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Bull & Stirrup

The Bull and Stirrup is a Victorian pub at the top end of Northgate Street, with a chequered past. One previous incarnation featured lap-dancing, but nowadays it is just a straightforward pub. One of the more interesting features is the panel of tiles in one of its' entrances, showing King Edgar being rowed up the river by local prince to swear fealty.

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