Funky Aardvark

A new shop has opened up in Bridge Street Row dedicated to all things arty and crafty. Called the Funky Aardvark they offer courses in life drawing, felt-making, lino cuts and print-making,  hat-making and many, many, more. Oh, and they also sell a wide range of beautiful objects. You can find out more about them here: http://www.funkyaardvark.co.uk

See our Chester self-catering serviced apartment at Black Diamond Park

Voir notre appartement meublé avec cuisine situé à Black Diamond Park

Turmeaus

Turmeaus is a tobacconist on Watergate Street with very friendly and helpful staff. It is the only place in Chester, I am told, where you can legally smoke indoors (although only whilst sampling tobacco). The shop has a purpose-built humidor at the back, and is probably the narrowest shop in Chester (although I can think of two others that can lay claim to that crown - must go back with a tape measure...). You can read more about it here:
http://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/document.php?id=turmeauschester.htm

See our Chester self-catering serviced apartment at Black Diamond Park

Voir notre appartement meublé avec cuisine situé à Black Diamond Park

Roman Gardens III - Cockpit

This area of the Roman Gardens was the scene of a cockpit, and cock-fighting took place in or around here for over 250 years. The first cockpit was laid out in 1619, and was later replaced by more permanent structures in brick and thatch, the last being built in 1825. Cock-fighting became a fashionable sport after the Restoration in 1660, and contests were a popular feature of Race Week. In the 1800s admission to the City Cock Pit was 5 shillings a day. Cock-fighting continued until 1849, when it was banned under the Cruelty to Animals Act.

See our Chester self-catering serviced apartment at Black Diamond Park

Voir notre appartement meublé avec cuisine situé à Black Diamond Park

Roman Gardens II - Pipes

In 1855 Chester was the centre for a flourishing clay tobacco-pipe industry, and the earliest British clay tobacco-pipe kiln ever found was discovered here. The kiln in the Roman Gardens was one of the last to produce pipes in Chester, but closed during the First World War, when cigarette smoking became fashionable. Pipe makers often stamped their names or initials on pipes, and makers on this site included Joseph Fitzgerald (c.1814-1840), John Jones (c.1848-1869), and William Boynton (c.1871-1917).

See our Chester self-catering serviced apartment at Black Diamond Park

Voir notre appartement meublé avec cuisine situé à Black Diamond Park

Living History Fair

Last Saturday there was a living history fair at St John's Church, where re-enactors from various historical periods got together to talk to the public about what they did. They were all interesting and highly knowledgeable about their particular period. Shown below are the Napoleonic and Second World War contingent.

 

See our Chester self-catering serviced apartment at Black Diamond Park

Voir notre appartement meublé avec cuisine situé à Black Diamond Park

Roman Gardens I

The Roman Gardens were laid out in 1951, for the Festival of Britain. This section of the city wall is an extension to the original Roman walls, and was probably built around 907, when Chester was fortified by Aethelflaed, daughter of Alfred the Great and Queen of Mercia. It was almost certainly built from stone quarried from the remains of the amphitheatre. By the early medieval period the northern part of the gardens were probably built on, with structures fronting onto a road that led through the Wolf Gate.

The mosaic shown below was installed earlier this year.

See our Chester self-catering serviced apartment at Black Diamond Park

Voir notre appartement meublé avec cuisine situé à Black Diamond Park

Red, White, and Blue

Someone has done some very spectacular planting in Grosvenor Park, because it is currently a feast for the eyes, dressed in a patriotic red, white and blue.

See our Chester self-catering serviced apartment at Black Diamond Park

Voir notre appartement meublé avec cuisine situé à Black Diamond Park