Pictures of Chester Castle

a Castle in the town of Chester, in the county of Cheshire

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About Chester Castle

The extensive ruins of Chester Castle can be found on a hillside overlooking the River Dee in close proximity to where the county borders with Wales. At its interception the castle, built on the orders of William the Conqueror around 1069, the castle was a timber construction. It was Henry III who later added the stone ramparts and towers. The medieval appearance of the castle remained until the latter part of the 18th-century when Henry's battlements and defensive walls were mostly torn down to make way for new buildings to a design by Thomas Harrison who became County Surveyor for Cheshire. Severe in appearance, the buildings completed in 1813 comprised of a new barrack block and the Assize County Court.

Visitors to the castle are often surprised at how much there is to see. Despite the passing centuries and damage inflicted, such as at the time of the English Civil War, there is still much of the original building left. This includes the impressive gatehouse, and although much faded now there are original wall paintings and some beautiful stone vaulting to be seen.

The Agricola Tower houses the Chapel of St. Mary de Castro. This remains consecrated and is used as the regimental chapel of the Cheshire Regiment.

With over one thousand years of history the castle makes an interesting visit. A castle building was used as Chester Mint for the Great Recoinage of 1696 and trials were held in the Great Hall of the Outer Bailey when the castle was used as a prison. Just the Gaoler's quarters and one row of cells remain as a reminder of the days when up to 100 men and women were kept at Chester Castle in conditions often described by reformists of the 18th-century as being little better than "The Black Hole of Calcutta". For those not wishing to make the trek round there are good displays in the guardroom of the Inner Bailey, these tell you of the history of the castle and how it looked over the changing centuries.

Visitors to the gun towers can enjoy superb views over the south and west of the city.

The castle buildings may be visited almost all the year round.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Chester Castle.

Planning a visit? Please help support this website by booking your hotels near Chester Castle and uploading your pictures.
Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Chester Castle

Chester Roman Amphitheatre	(0.4 miles, 0.6 km)	Pictures
Roman Gardens	(0.4 miles, 0.6 km)	Pictures
DEWA Roman Experience	(0.4 miles, 0.6 km)	Pictures
Chester Cathedral	(0.4 miles, 0.7 km)	Pictures
Chester Heritage Centre	(0.5 miles, 0.8 km)	Pictures
Chester Zoo	(3.1 miles, 5.0 km, direction N)	Pictures
Ellesmere Port Boat Museum	(7.2 miles, 11.6 km, direction N)	Pictures
Rivacre Valley Country Park	(7.7 miles, 12.4 km, direction N)	Pictures
Wepre Country Park	(8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction W)	Pictures
Peckforton Castle	(8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction SE)	Pictures

All attractions in Cheshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Chester Castle

Chester, a Historic City in the county of Cheshire (0.7 miles, 1.1 km)
Chester, the county town of Cheshire, is one of the oldest and most complete walled cities with fantastic architecture and history.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Helsby, in the county of Cheshire (7.7 miles, 12.4 km, direction NE)
Helsby is famous for Helsby Hill which rises to a height of 462ft, and has traces of an Iron-Age camp.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Tarporley, in the county of Cheshire (9.1 miles, 14.6 km, direction E)
Attractive large village which developed as a coaching stop on the main London to Liverpool road during the 17th and 18th-centuries.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Delamere, in the county of Cheshire (9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction E)
The village of Delamere can be found in the midst of beautiful Cheshire countryside in an area of forests and rivers. It is...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Shocklach, in the county of Cheshire (10.5 miles, 16.8 km, direction S)
Shocklach is a small rural hamlet set beside a tributary of the River Dee between Wrexham and Nantwich. It is a lovely...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Wirral Peninsula, in the county of Merseyside (11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction NW)
The Wirral Peninsula is an area of Merseyside approximately 60 square miles (160 square Km) known as 'The Wirral'
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Port Sunlight, in the county of Merseyside (12.2 miles, 19.6 km, direction N)
The centre-piece of the village is the Lady Lever Art Gallery and Museum, this was built as a memorial to Lady Lever and was opened in 1922.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Widnes, in the county of Cheshire (13.3 miles, 21.4 km, direction NE)
There is much that is Victorian about Widnes, this can be seen in the splendid public library building and the park named after a great Queen and Empress.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Heswall, in the county of Merseyside (13.4 miles, 21.5 km, direction NW)
Heswall, although situated on the banks of the River Dee remains very much part of Merseyside. It is fortunate to occupy a spacious area fringed by green wooded countryside, and is close to sands commencing at near-by Thurstaston.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Liverpool, a Historic City in the county of Merseyside (16.2 miles, 26.1 km, direction N)
From early humble origins Liverpool, over the centuries has grown and developed to become one of the most exciting cities to...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in Cheshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Chester Station	(0.8 miles, 1.2 km)
Bache Station	(1.0 miles, 1.6 km)
M53 Junction 12	(2.3 miles, 3.6 km, direction NE)
M53 Junction 11 / M56 Junction 15	(4.4 miles, 7.0 km, direction N)
Liverpool John Lennon Airport	(10.3 miles, 16.5 km, direction N)
Manchester Airport	(28.2 miles, 45.4 km, direction NE)
Chester Castle to London	(164.5 miles, 264.7 km, direction SE)

Accommodation & Hotels near Chester Castle

Hotel Name
The Blossoms Hotel	(0.4 miles, 0.6 km)
The Chester Grosvenor And Spa	(0.4 miles, 0.7 km)
Crowne Plaza Chester	(0.5 miles, 0.9 km)
Eaton Hotel Non Smoking	(0.6 miles, 0.9 km)
Mill Hotel & Spa	(0.6 miles, 1.0 km)
The Stafford Hotel	(0.6 miles, 1.0 km)
Express By Holiday Inn Chester Racecourse	(0.6 miles, 1.0 km)
Best Western Westminster Hotel	(0.6 miles, 1.0 km)
Best Western Queen Hotel	(0.7 miles, 1.2 km)
The Curzon Hotel	(1.0 miles, 1.6 km)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts