Chester Castle

Chester Castle was founded by William the Conqueror in 1070 and became the administrative centre of the Earldom of Chester. The first earth and timber ‘motte and bailey’ castle probably only occupied the area of the inner bailey. In the twelfth century it was rebuilt in stone and the outer bailey added.

In 1237 the last earl died and the castle, with the earldom, was taken over by the king. In 1265, during the Barons’ War, it was held for ten weeks by supporters of Simon de Montfort against the men of Prince Edward, son of Henry III.

During the reigns of Henry III and Edward I the castle served as the military headquarters for the conquest of Wales and much building was carried out, especially in the outer bailey. In the later medieval period the monarch rarely stayed at the castle, but it continued to serve as the centre for county administration.

During the Civil War (1642–6) it was the head-quarters of the Royalist governor, John, Lord Byron. Subsequently a permanent garrison was stationed there, and between 1788 and 1813 the outer bailey was completely rebuilt in the Neo-classical style. The buildings still serve as the county hall, courts and regimental museum, but the military finally withdrew in 1999.

Agricola Tower

The original gateway to Chester Castle, this 12th century tower contains a chapel with exceptionally fine wall-paintings dated about 1220 but rediscovered in the 1980s.