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2022 Event listings
Throughout the Festival
Friday 17 June
- 17 Jun 2022, 19:30 – 21:15Bishop Lloyd's Palace, 51-53 Watergate St, Chester CH1 2LE, UKLearn about the history of Chester’s water supply and the importance of the River Dee in its provision. Tickets cost £8, which includes a glass of wine at the end of the evening, and should be booked in advance. Tickets cost £8 and should be booked in advance.
- 17 Jun 2022, 14:30 – 16:00Outside Little Roodee Café , Castle Drive, Chester CH1 1SL, UKUnravel the story of the Port of Chester and its role in the history of the city through almost 2000 years. Be guided by Tour Guide Marie Layng through the sites of the Roman and Medieval harbours, the later Old Port Area and lastly the Canal Basin. Tickets cost £10 to be booked in advance.
- 17 Jun 2022, 12:15 – 13:30The Grosvenor Museum, 27 Grosvenor St, Cheshire, Chester CH1 2DD, UKA lunchtime lecture introducing some key aspects of Chester’s natural heritage: its geology and physical landscape - including the local rusty red bedrock and the course of the Dee. Plus how these aspects have influenced the city’s origins and development. Free event.
- 17 Jun 2022, 11:00 – 12:00Chester, St Werburgh Street, Chester CH1 2DY, UKAt 11:00 & 14:00 Guided tour focusing on the medieval architecture of Chester Cathedral from 1240 to 1542, followed by a traditional stonemasonry demonstration and a Q&A about medieval vs modern stonemasonry. Tickets £5 – book online or call the Cathedral on 01244 500 959.
Saturday 18 June
- 18 Jun 2022, 20:30 – 22:00Visitor Information Centre, Town Hall, Northgate St, Chester CH1 2HJ, UKA dark-tourism romp through the city’s history, focusing on the macabre, grisly, and ghostly. Tales will be revealed of plague doctors, heads on spikes over Eastgate, and ghostly goings-on at Chester’s former gallows. Tickets cost £10 and are to be booked in advance.
- 18 Jun 2022, 17:30 – 19:00Visitor Information Centre, Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ, UKWalk through Chester, in search of ghosts. Don’t be scared, most of Chester's ghosts are very friendly. Blue Badge Guide, Ann Coward, tells the stories of the ghosts as you tour the places they haunt. To be booked in advance: children under 12 go free, adult tickets £10.
- 18 Jun 2022, 14:00 – 15:30Station Concourse, Chester Station, City Road, Chester CH1 3NS, UKA tour of Chester Station, not just a whistle stop visit. Explore this station opened in 1848. Look at the historic features of this impressive station as its story is told. Tickets cost £5 and should be booked in advance.
- 18 Jun 2022, 11:30 – 13:00Visitor Information Centre, Chester, Town Hall, Northgate St, Chester CH1 2HJ, UKTake a tour of Chester with a twist with John Wolfenden of the Guild of Chester Tour Guides as he reads brief extracts from what famous visitors have written over the centuries about the city and some of its people. Tickets cost £10 and should be booked in advance.
- 18 Jun 2022, 10:00 – 16:00Wheeler Building, University of Chester, Castle Drive, Chester CH1 1SL, UKView curiosities from the world of medicine, nursing, midwifery, and social work: ask your questions of the Faculty of Health and Social Care Historical Society volunteers who will be in attendance. Disabled access is available if requested in advance.
Sunday 19 June
- Multiple Dates19 Jun 2022, 19:00 – 20:30 BSTChester Cross, Watergate Street, Chester CH1 2LA, UKExplore three key aspects that give Chester its distinctive sense-of-place: the Roman legacy, the unique Rows and the half-timber vernacular Revival. Tour the main streets and venture along sections of the Rows with your guide, Paul Hyde, of Chester Civic Trust. Book this free walk in advance.
- 19 Jun 2022, 14:15 – 14:40Outside Dee House, Little St John Street, Chester, CH1 1DD, UKLook at the structures designed by John Douglas and Edmund Kirby on this short walk from Dee House to St. Werburgh’s Church. It is fully accessible and arrives at St. Werburgh’s in time for a related talk. Booking of this free walk is essential.
- Multiple Dates
- 19 Jun 2022, 11:00 – 12:15Outside the Falcon, Grosvenor St, Chester CH1 1XG, UKDiscover the rich heritage between the site of the Roman South Gate and the ancient quarry in Edgar’s Field Park as you head south with Paul Hyde of Chester Civic Trust. Once in a dilapidated state, ‘heading south’ but revived by a major conservation initiative. Free walk to be booked in advance.
- 19 Jun 2022, 10:00 – 11:30Edgar’s Field Park, Handbridge, Chester CH4 7JE, UKJoin The Welsh Dee Trust on a guided walk along the River Dee looking at both the river and the wildlife that relies on it. Get a closer look at some of the insects that live in the water. Free walk to be booked in advance. Free family friendly walk to be booked in advance.
Monday 20 June
- 20 Jun 2022, 18:30 – 19:45Outside the Falcon, Grosvenor St, Chester CH1 1XG, UKDiscover the rich heritage between the site of the Roman South Gate and the ancient quarry in Edgar’s Field Park as you head south with Paul Hyde of Chester Civic Trust. Once in a dilapidated state, ‘heading south’ but revived by a major conservation initiative. Free walk to be booked in advance.
- Multiple Dates20 Jun 2022, 14:15 – 15:45Chester Cross, Watergate Street, Chester CH1 2LA, UKExplore three key aspects that give Chester its distinctive sense-of-place: the Roman legacy, the unique Rows and the half-timber vernacular Revival. Tour the main streets and venture along sections of the Rows with your guide, Paul Hyde, of Chester Civic Trust. Book this free walk in advance.
- 20 Jun 2022, 10:15 – 11:45Newgate St, Chester CH1 1DE, UKChester’s buildings are sometimes deceptive and are nothing if not varied! This walk led by Stephen Langtree, vice president of Chester Civic Trust, will visit some of the evidence of the city’s legacy of 2000 years of continuous occupation. Free walk to be booked in advance.
Tuesday 21 June
- 21 Jun 2022, 18:00 – 19:30Amphitheatre Entrance, Souter's Lane, Chester CH1 1RE, UKWalk through a part of Chester that had many elegant buildings: some now lost, some still there, and one in disrepair. Join Tom Welsh of Chester Civic Trust to explore this area. Free walk to be booked in advance.
- 21 Jun 2022, 10:00 – 11:30Roman Gardens, Pepper St, Chester CH1 1DQ, UKA walk through Chester, tracing the development and evolution of architectural design from the Romans to the present day. Join Nicholas Fry of the Guild of Tour Guides to explore features of Chester’s buildings. Tickets cost £10 and are to be booked in advance. This walk includes no steps.
Wednesday 22 June
- 22 Jun 2022, 18:00 – 19:00Chester Cross, Watergate Street, Chester CH1 2LA, UKThe Rows past, present and future: a look at Chester’s unique city centre, which are now part of the Government’s ‘High Street Heritage Action Zones’ initiative to revitalise historic high streets. Free walk to be booked in advance.
- 22 Jun 2022, 14:00 – 15:30Visitor Information Centre, Chester, Town Hall, Northgate St, Chester CH1 2HJ, UKTake a tour of Chester with a twist with John Wolfenden of the Guild of Chester Tour Guides as he reads brief extracts from what famous visitors have written over the centuries about the city and some of its people. Tickets cost £10 and should be booked in advance.
- 22 Jun 2022, 12:00 – 14:00ChesterBoat Quay, The Groves, Chester CH1 1SZ, UKView Chester and the Grosvenor family’s Eaton Estate from the Dee as you cruise up to Aldford Iron Bridge. Learn about the importance of the river to Chester through the ages, from a live commentary given by Liz Roberts of the Guild of Chester Tour Guides. Adults - £16.20 online
Thursday 23 June
- 23 Jun 2022, 14:00 – 16:00Roman Gardens, Pepper St, Chester CH1 1DQ, UKChester’s City Walls; not a simple monument; ever changing since they protected a Roman fortress. This walk will explore the surviving sections of Roman origin and show how they have fallen down, been rebuilt, modified and restored over almost 2000 years. Free walk to be booked in advance.
- 23 Jun 2022, 10:30 – 12:00St Peter's at The Cross, Watergate Street, Chester CH1 2LA, UKChester`s Guilds still exist. Learn from several members what they did for Chester in their heyday during this walk to see a selection of buildings and discuss events, which they have been associated with over the last 800 years. Free walk to be booked in advance.
Friday 24 June
- 24 Jun 2022, 18:00 – 19:30Amphitheatre Entrance, Souter's Lane, Chester CH1 1RE, UKWalk through a part of Chester that had many elegant buildings: some now lost, some still there, and one in disrepair. Join Tom Welsh of Chester Civic Trust to explore this area. Free walk to be booked in advance.
- 24 Jun 2022, 11:00 – 12:00Chester, St Werburgh Street, Chester CH1 2DY, UKAt 11:00 & 14:00 Guided tour focusing on the medieval architecture of Chester Cathedral from 1240 to 1542, followed by a traditional stonemasonry demonstration and a Q&A about medieval vs modern stonemasonry. Tickets £5 – book online or call the Cathedral on 01244 500 959.
- 24 Jun 2022, 10:15 – 11:45Newgate St, Chester CH1 1DE, UKChester’s buildings are sometimes deceptive and are nothing if not varied! This walk led by Stephen Langtree, vice president of Chester Civic Trust, will visit some of the evidence of the city’s legacy of 2000 years of continuous occupation. Free walk to be booked in advance.
Saturday 25 June
- 25 Jun 2022, 10:30 – 12:00Upton Library, 23 Wealstone Lane, Upton, Chester CH2 1HB, UKA walk around the Upton area with the Upton Local History Group and David Evans of Chester Civic Trust. Refreshments will be provided in the library after the walk. This free event should be booked in advance by phoning the library.
- 25 Jun 2022, 10:00 – 11:30Grosvenor Park, Union St, Chester CH1 1QP, UKSessions at 10:00 & 13:00; ideally suited to primary school children; learn the secret of the trees in Grosvenor Park; play tree related games; and make a tree inspired craft to take home. Free event to be booked in advance.
Sunday 26 June
- Multiple Dates
- 26 Jun 2022, 10:00 – 11:30Grosvenor Park, Union St, Chester CH1 1QP, UKSessions at 10:00 & 13:00; ideally suited to primary school children; learn the secret of the trees in Grosvenor Park; play tree related games; and make a tree inspired craft to take home. Free event to be booked in advance.
Monday 27 June
- 27 Jun 2022, 17:00 – 18:30Entrance to The Meadows, Lower Park Rd, Chester CH4 7BB, UKLearn about the history of The Meadows; purchased by the Brown family in 1929; and transferred to council ownership, on condition they are preserved for recreational use, by citizens of Chester. Free walk to be booked in advance.
- 27 Jun 2022, 14:00 – 15:30Roman Gardens, Pepper St, Chester CH1 1DQ, UKA walk through Chester, tracing the development and evolution of architectural design from the Romans to the present day. Join Nicholas Fry of the Guild of Tour Guides to explore features of Chester’s buildings. Tickets cost £10 and are to be booked in advance. This walk includes no steps.
- Multiple Dates
- 27 Jun 2022, 10:30 – 12:00Racecourse entrance, New Crane St, Chester CH1 2LY, UKExplore the area that achieved Heritage Port Status in 2021, the UK’s first inland waterway system to receive this designation. Look back 250 years when work commenced on Chester Canal. Free event to be booked in advance.
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