The timeline of Cheshire history shows significant events in the history of the English county of Cheshire.

1–500 AD

* 70: The

Romans Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

found the fortress and town of

Deva Victrix Deva Victrix, or simply Deva, was a legionary fortress and town in the Roman province of Britannia on the site of the modern city of Chester. The fortress was built by the Legio II ''Adiutrix'' in the 70s AD as the Roman army advanced north ag ...

, now Chester. * c. 90:

Legio XX Valeria Victrix Legio XX Valeria Victrix, in English Twentieth Victorious Valeria Legion was a legion of the Imperial Roman army. The origin of the Legion's name is unclear and there are various theories, but the legion may have gained its title ''Valeria ...

arrive in Chester. * 410: Romans retreat from Britannia. * 429: Germanus of Auxerre wins the Battle of Maes Garmon, near

Mold A mold () or mould () is one of the structures certain fungi can form. The dust-like, colored appearance of molds is due to the formation of spores containing fungal secondary metabolites. The spores are the dispersal units of the fungi. Not ...

, and establishes Cadell as the Christian ruler of a region, later

Powys Powys (; ) is a county and preserved county in Wales. It is named after the Kingdom of Powys which was a Welsh successor state, petty kingdom and principality that emerged during the Middle Ages following the end of Roman rule in Britain. Geog ...

, based on pre-Roman

Cornovii The Cornovii is the name by which two, or three, tribes were known in Roman Britain. One tribe was in the area centred on present-day Shropshire, one was in Caithness in northernmost Scotland, and there was probably one in Cornwall. The name has ...

territory, thought to include Cheshire.

7th century

* 603: Synod of Chester. * 616:

Æthelfrith of Northumbria Æthelfrith (died c. 616) was King of Bernicia from c. 593 until his death. Around 604 he became the first Bernician king to also rule the neighboring land of Deira, giving him an important place in the development of the later kingdom of Nort ...

defeats a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

army at the

Battle of Chester The Battle of Chester (Old Welsh: ''Guaith Caer Legion''; Welsh: ''Brwydr Caer'') was a major victory for the Anglo-Saxons over the native Britons near the city of Chester, England in the early 7th century. Æthelfrith of Northumbria annihilated ...

. * 689: Church of St John the Baptist founded outside Chester city walls by King

Æthelred of Mercia Æthelred (; died after 704) was king of Mercia from 675 until 704. He was the son of Penda of Mercia and came to the throne in 675, when his brother, Wulfhere of Mercia, died from an illness. Within a year of his accession he invaded Kent, w ...

and Bishop

Wilfrid Wilfrid ( – 709 or 710) was an English bishop and saint. Born a Northumbrian noble, he entered religious life as a teenager and studied at Lindisfarne, at Canterbury, in Francia, and at Rome; he returned to Northumbria in about 660, and ...

9th century

Chester Cathedral - Refektorium Ostfenster 1 St

* 830: The district was subjugated by

Ecgberht, King of Wessex Ecgberht (770/775 – 839), also spelled Egbert, Ecgbert, Ecgbriht, Ecgbeorht, and Ecbert, was King of Wessex from 802 until his death in 839. His father was King Ealhmund of Kent. In the 780s, Ecgberht was forced into exile to Charlema ...

and incorporated in the kingdom of

Mercia la, Merciorum regnum , conventional_long_name=Kingdom of Mercia , common_name=Mercia , status=Kingdom , status_text=Independent kingdom (527–879) Client state of Wessex () , life_span=527–918 , era= Heptarchy , event_start= , date_start= , ...

. * 874 or 875:

St Werburgh Werburgh (also ''Wærburh'', ''Werburh'', ''Werburga'', meaning "true city"; ; c. AD 650 – 3 February 699/700) was an Anglo-Saxon princess who became the patron saint of the city of Chester in Cheshire. Her feast day is 3 February. Life Wer ...

's remains brought to Chester for protection against

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...

invaders.Bu'Lock, p. 59 * c. 890: Chester establishes a

mint MiNT is Now TOS (MiNT) is a free software alternative operating system kernel for the Atari ST system and its successors. It is a multi-tasking alternative to TOS and MagiC. Together with the free system components fVDI device drivers, XaA ...

. * 890:

Plegmund Plegmund (or Plegemund; died 2 August either 914 or 923) was a medieval English Archbishop of Canterbury. He may have been a hermit before he became archbishop in 890. As archbishop, he reorganised the Diocese of Winchester, creating four ne ...

, probably of

Plemstall Plemstall (formerly Plemonstall) is a hamlet in the civil parish of Mickle Trafford and District, Cheshire, England. It lies northeast of the village of Mickle Trafford. The hamlet contains only a farm and former level crossing keeper's house, in ...

, becomes Archbishop of Canterbury. * 893: First mention of Scandinavian settlers in Chester. * 893–894: A Danish force overwinters in Chester. * 894–895:

King Alfred Alfred the Great (alt. Ælfred 848/849 – 26 October 899) was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf and his first wife Osburh, who ...

drives the Danes from Chester.

10th century

* 907: Chester refounded as a

burh A burh () or burg was an Old English fortification or fortified settlement. In the 9th century, raids and invasions by Vikings prompted Alfred the Great to develop a network of burhs and roads to use against such attackers. Some were new constr ...

by Æthelflæd and King

Edward the Elder Edward the Elder (17 July 924) was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 899 until his death in 924. He was the elder son of Alfred the Great and his wife Ealhswith. When Edward succeeded to the throne, he had to defeat a challenge from his cousin ...

, and re-fortification starts. * 907: Church to

, later

Chester Cathedral Chester Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral and the mother church of the Diocese of Chester. It is located in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. The cathedral, formerly the abbey church of a Benedictine monastery dedicated to Saint ...

, founded by

Æthelflæd Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians ( 870 – 12 June 918) ruled Mercia in the English Midlands from 911 until her death. She was the eldest daughter of Alfred the Great, king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, and his wife Ealhswith. Æthe ...

, rebuilt from an earlier church dedicated to St Peter and St Paul.Bu'Lock, pp. 75–76 * 907:

founds new church dedicated to St Peter and St Paul in Chester. * 914: The

Iron Age The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Stone Age ( Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) and the Bronze Age ( Chalcolithic). The concept has been mostl ...

hill fort A hillfort is a type of earthwork used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze Age or Iron Age. Some were used in the post-Roma ...

at Eddisbury is re-fortified by Æthelflæd. * 915: Æthelflæd builds a burh at

Runcorn Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port in the Borough of Halton in Cheshire, England. Its population in 2011 was 61,789. The town is in the southeast of the Liverpool City Region, with Liverpool to the northwest across the River Mersey. ...

. * 915–920: Re-fortification of Chester probably completed. * 919: Edward the Elder builds a burh at

Thelwall Thelwall is a suburban village in the Borough of Warrington, Cheshire, England, close to the Lymm junction of the M6 motorway. History A fortified village was established at Thelwall in 923, in the reign of King Edward the Elder, which is me ...

.Bu'Lock, pp. 53–54 * 923–924: Chester revolts against rule from

Wessex la, Regnum Occidentalium Saxonum , conventional_long_name = Kingdom of the West Saxons , common_name = Wessex , image_map = Southern British Isles 9th century.svg , map_caption = S ...

and is subdued by Edward the Elder. * 17 July 924: Edward the Elder dies at Farndon or Aldford. * 937: King

Æthelstan Æthelstan or Athelstan (; ang, Æðelstān ; on, Aðalsteinn; ; – 27 October 939) was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 924 to 927 and King of the English from 927 to his death in 939. He was the son of King Edward the Elder and his fir ...

defeats the armies of Dublin, Alba and Strathclyde at the

Battle of Brunanburh The Battle of Brunanburh was fought in 937 between Æthelstan, King of England, and an alliance of Olaf Guthfrithson, King of Dublin, Constantine II, King of Scotland, and Owain, King of Strathclyde. The battle is often cited as the poin ...

, probably near Bromborough. * 958: King Edgar of England grants a charter to St Werburgh's Abbey, Chester. * 973: Edgar of England visits Chester. * 980:

Viking Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...

s raid Chester. * 980: First recorded use of the shire or county of Chester.

11th century

* 1007:

Eadric Streona Eadric Streona (died 1017) was Ealdorman of Mercia from 1007 until he was killed by King Cnut. Eadric was given the epithet "Streona" (translated as "The Acquisitive”) in Hemming's Cartulary because he appropriated church land and funds for ...

becomes the King's ealdorman of Mercia.Bu'Lock, p. 56 * 1016:

Edmund Ironside Edmund Ironside (30 November 1016; , ; sometimes also known as Edmund II) was King of the English from 23 April to 30 November 1016. He was the son of King Æthelred the Unready and his first wife, Ælfgifu of York. Edmund's reign was marred by ...

ravages Chester. * c. 1017: King

Cnut Cnut (; ang, Cnut cyning; non, Knútr inn ríki ; or , no, Knut den mektige, sv, Knut den Store. died 12 November 1035), also known as Cnut the Great and Canute, was King of England from 1016, King of Denmark from 1018, and King of Norwa ...

executes Eadric Streona, and makes Leofric Earl of Mercia. * 1062:

Edwin The name Edwin means "rich friend". It comes from the Old English elements "ead" (rich, blessed) and "ƿine" (friend). The original Anglo-Saxon form is Eadƿine, which is also found for Anglo-Saxon figures. People * Edwin of Northumbria (die ...

succeeds as Earl of Mercia. * 1069–1071:

William I William I; ang, WillelmI (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), usually known as William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England, reigning from 1066 until his death in 10 ...

leads the

Norman Conquest The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Norman, Breton, Flemish, and French troops, all led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Con ...

into Cheshire; besieges Chester and kills Edwin, Earl of Mercia. * 1070:

Hugh d'Avranches Hugh d'Avranches ( 1047 – 27 July 1101), nicknamed ''le Gros'' (the Large) or ''Lupus'' (the Wolf), was from 1071 the second Norman Earl of Chester and one of the great magnates of early Norman England. Early life and career Hugh d'Avra ...

created as first

Earl of Chester The Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful earldoms in medieval England, extending principally over the counties of Cheshire and Flintshire. Since 1301 the title has generally been granted to heirs apparent to the English throne, and a ...

. * 1070:

Chester Castle Chester Castle is in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. It is sited at the southwest extremity of the area bounded by the city walls. The castle stands on an eminence overlooking the River Dee. In the castle complex are the remaining part ...

built. * 1070:

Frodsham Castle Frodsham Castle was in the market town of Frodsham, Cheshire, England (). Initially it served a military purpose, it then became a manor house and a gaol. After being damaged in the Civil War it was replaced by new house, Park Place. Location ...

built. * 1075:

St John the Baptist's Church, Chester St John the Baptist's Church is the former cathedral of Chester, Cheshire, England during the Early Middle Ages. The church, which was first founded in the late 7th Century by the Anglo Saxons, is outside Chester's city walls on a cliff above t ...

becomes a cathedral. * 1092:

Monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone ( hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer whi ...

founded on site of current

12th century

* 1115:

Norton Priory Norton Priory is a historic site in Norton, Runcorn, Cheshire, England, comprising the remains of an abbey complex dating from the 12th to 16th centuries, and an 18th-century country house; it is now a museum. The remains are a scheduled ...

founded. * 1133:

Combermere Abbey Combermere Abbey is a former monastery, later a country house, near Burleydam, between Nantwich, Cheshire and Whitchurch, Shropshire, Whitchurch in Shropshire, England, located within Cheshire and near the border with Shropshire. Initially Congre ...

founded. * 1140: Serious fire in Chester. * c. 1150:

Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester Ranulf II (also known as Ranulf de Gernon), 4th Earl of Chester (1099–1153), was an Anglo-Norman baron who inherited the honour of the palatine county of Chester upon the death of his father Ranulf le Meschin, 3rd Earl of Chester. He was desc ...

founds a

Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...

nunnery in Chester. * 1157: Henry II entertained at Chester Castle. * 1165: Henry II entertained at Chester Castle again. * 1180: Serious fire in Chester. * 1182: Cheshire land north of the Mersey becomes part of the new county of

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancash ...

. * 1190:

Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester and 1st Earl of Lincoln (1170–26 October 1232), known in some references as the 4th Earl of Chester (in the second lineage of the title after the original family line was broken after the 2nd Earl), w ...

founds Little St John's Hospital in Chester. * c. 1195: '' Liber de Luciani laude Cestrie'', the oldest surviving piece of Cheshire writing, was created.

13th century

* 1211: King John entertained at Chester Castle. * 1215–16: In the ''Carta Communis Cestriensis'',

grants limited concessions to his feudal lords. * 1220s:

Beeston Castle Beeston Castle is a former Royal castle in Beeston, Cheshire, England (), perched on a rocky sandstone crag above the Cheshire Plain. It was built in the 1220s by Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester (1170–1232), on his return from th ...

built. * 1236: Dominican friars arrive in Chester. * 1237: 7th

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

, dies without a male heir. Henry IV passes the title to his son, Prince Edward – later to become King Edward I. * 1237–38:

Franciscan , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...

friars arrive in Chester. * 1237–51: Stone walls replace the wooden palisade around

. * 1253: Aldford and Alderley markets created. * 1261: Macclesfield market created. * 1264: The castle and city of Chester were granted to

Simon de Montfort Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester ( – 4 August 1265), later sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from his namesake relatives, was a nobleman of French origin and a member of the English peerage, who led the ...

. * 1272: Congleton market created. * 1275: Monks of St Werburgh's Abbey build Kaleyard Gate in

Chester city walls Chester city walls consist of a defensive structure built to protect the city of Chester in Cheshire, England. Their construction was started by the Romans when they established the fortress of Deva Victrix between 70 and 80 E It originat ...

. * 1277: King Edward I lays foundation stone to

Vale Royal Abbey Vale Royal Abbey is a former medieval abbey and later country house in Whitegate England. The precise location and boundaries of the abbey are difficult to determine in today's landscape. The original building was founded c. 1270 by the Lord ...

. * 12 May 1278: Serious fire in Chester when nearly the whole of the city is burnt. * 1279–80: Timber superstructure of the

Old Dee Bridge The Old Dee Bridge in Chester, Cheshire, England, is the oldest bridge in the city. It crosses the River Dee carrying the road that leads from the bottom of Lower Bridge Street and the Bridgegate to Handbridge. A bridge on this site was firs ...

swept away. * 1280:

Over Over may refer to: Places *Over, Cambridgeshire, England *Over, Cheshire, England *Over, South Gloucestershire, England * Over, Tewkesbury, near Gloucester, England ** Over Bridge *Over, Seevetal, Germany Music Albums * ''Over'' (album), by Pe ...

market created. * 1281: Serious fire in

Middlewich Middlewich is a town in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, east of Chester, east of Winsford, southeast of Northwich and northwest of Sandbach. The population at the 2011 Census was 13,595 ...

.Driver 1971, p. 50 * 1292–93: Chambers for the king and queen, and a new outer gatehouse built at Chester Castle.

14th century

* 1306: Serious fire in Northwich. * 1322–25: Chester

Water Tower A water tower is an elevated structure supporting a water tank constructed at a height sufficient to pressurize a distribution system for potable water, and to provide emergency storage for fire protection. Water towers often operate in conju ...

built. * 1349: The black death arrives in Cheshire. * 1364: Doddington Castle built. * 20 July 1376: Charter of disafforestation of Wirral issued. * 1387: Major repairs to the

. * 1391:

becomes a mitred abbey. * 1394: Richard II visits Chester with many of his nobles. * 1397: Lands in the march of

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

added to Cheshire, and it is promoted to the rank of principality. * 16 October 1398: Richard II gives 3000 marks to his Cheshire supporters at the

Battle of Radcot Bridge The Battle of Radcot Bridge was fought on 19 December 1387 in medieval England between troops loyal to Richard II, led by court favourite Robert de Vere, and an army captained by Henry Bolingbroke, Earl of Derby. It took place at Radcot Bridge, ...

. * 1399: Henry IV (then still

Duke of Lancaster The Dukedom of Lancaster is an English peerage merged into the crown. It was created three times in the Middle Ages, but finally merged in the Crown when Henry V succeeded to the throne in 1413. Despite the extinction of the dukedom the title ...

) seizes Chester Castle and causes Richard II to be brought there from

Flint Castle Flint Castle ( cy, Castell y Fflint) in Flint, Flintshire, was the first of a series of castles built during King Edward I's campaign to conquer Wales. The site was chosen for its strategic position in North East Wales. The castle was only o ...

, after which Richard abdicates and Henry becomes king. * 1399–1407: Tower built to fortify Chester's Dee Bridge.

15th century

*1400: Unsuccessful attack on

by supporters of deposed Richard II. *July 1403: Many Cheshire gentry support the unsuccessful

uprising Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority. A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...

Henry "Hotspur" Percy Sir Henry Percy (20 May 1364 – 21 July 1403), nicknamed Hotspur, was an English knight who fought in several campaigns against the Scots in the northern border and against the French during the Hundred Years' War. The nickname "Hotsp ...

against Henry IV. *1422: First reference to

Chester Mystery Plays The Chester Mystery Plays is a cycle of mystery plays originating in the city of Chester, England and dating back to at least the early part of the 15th century. Origins and history Biblical dramas were being performed across continental Eur ...

. *1433: Famine led to food shortages in Chester.Driver 1971, p. 38 *July 1438: Serious fire in

Nantwich Nantwich ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East in Cheshire, England. It has among the highest concentrations of listed buildings in England, with notably good examples of Tudor and Georgian architecture. ...

. *1444: Henry VI visits Chester. *1445: Fee-farm (rent payable to the Crown) for Chester is halved from £100 to £50, attributed to silting of the River Dee; further reductions agreed in 1484 and 1486. *1450: A group of Cheshire gentry successfully petitions the Crown against the introduction of a parliamentary subsidy. *1452, 1455, 1459: Margaret of Anjou visits Chester. *23 September 1459: Many Cheshire gentry killed fighting on both sides in the Battle of Blore Heath, early in the

Wars of the Roses The Wars of the Roses (1455–1487), known at the time and for more than a century after as the Civil Wars, were a series of civil wars fought over control of the English throne in the mid-to-late fifteenth century. These wars were fought bet ...

. *1470: Edward IV visits Chester. *April 1484: Richard III visits Chester. *March 1486: Henry VII visits Chester. *1488: Stockport Grammar School is founded. *1492, 1494: Fires in Chester's Foregate and Northgate Streets.Driver 1971, p. 31 *July 1493: Henry VII again visits Chester. *1497: First performance of Chester Midsummer Show.

16th century

*1502: Macclesfield Grammar School is founded. *1504-1508: Construction of the earliest part of

Little Moreton Hall Little Moreton Hall, also known as Old Moreton Hall, is a moated half-timbered manor house southwest of Congleton in Cheshire, England. The earliest parts of the house were built for the prosperous Cheshire landowner William Moreton in abo ...

near Congleton. *1506: Great Charter establishes Chester as a county, codifies its government, and gives the city the right to hold a court of quarter sessions. *April 1506: Henry VII visits Chester. *1507: Outbreak of "sweating sickness" in Chester. * 1510: St Ursula's Hospital founded in Chester. * 1527: Malpas Grammar School founded. * 1535: Outbreak of plague in Nantwich. * 1536:

Dissolution Dissolution may refer to: Arts and entertainment Books * ''Dissolution'' (''Forgotten Realms'' novel), a 2002 fantasy novel by Richard Lee Byers * ''Dissolution'' (Sansom novel), a 2003 historical novel by C. J. Sansom Music * Dissolution, in mu ...

. *1536: First piped water supply for civil use in Chester established. * 1538:

by Sir Thomas Holcroft. * July 1538:

. * 15 August 1538: Dissolution of Chester's three friaries. * 20 January 1540: Dissolution of St Werburgh's Abbey. * 1541: St Werburgh's abbey becomes a cathedral of the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britai ...

known as

by order of King Henry VIII. Chester becomes a diocese. * 1543: Cheshire sends its first members to sit in Parliament. *1575: Chester Mystery Plays are banned.Driver 1971, p. 145 Churches Mansion left

* 1577:

Christopher Saxton Christopher Saxton (c. 1540 – c. 1610) was an English cartographer who produced the first county maps of England and Wales. Life and family Saxton was probably born in Sowood, Ossett in the parish of Dewsbury, in the West Riding of Yorkshire ...

publishes his map of Cheshire. * 1578:

Sandbach Sandbach (pronounced ) is the name of a historic market town and a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East, Cheshire, England. The civil parish contains four settlements: Sandbach itself as the largest, Elworth, Ettiley Heath a ...

market opens. *December 1583: Fire destroys much of

, but not Churche's Mansion built in 1577. *1584:

Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is ...

contributes to a national fund for the rebuilding of Nantwich. * 1591: Stanley Palace built in Chester on the site of the former Dominican friary.

17th century

*1604: Outbreak of the

plague Plague or The Plague may refer to: Agriculture, fauna, and medicine *Plague (disease), a disease caused by ''Yersinia pestis'' * An epidemic of infectious disease (medical or agricultural) * A pandemic caused by such a disease * A swarm of pe ...

kills around 500 people in

. *1636: Completion of

Crewe Hall Crewe Hall is a Jacobean mansion located near Crewe Green, east of Crewe, in Cheshire, England. Described by Nikolaus Pevsner as one of the two finest Jacobean houses in Cheshire,Pevsner & Hubbard, p. 22 it is listed at grade I. Built in 16 ...

. * 1637: First known stagecoach runs between

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...

and

Holywell Holywell may refer to: * Holywell, Flintshire, Wales * Holywell, Swords, Ireland * Holywell, Bedfordshire, England * Holywell, Cambridgeshire, England * Holywell, Cornwall, England * Holywell, Dorset, England * Holywell, Eastbourne, East Susse ...

via Nantwich and Chester. * 1642: Failure of the Bunbury Agreement, an attempt by local gentry to keep Cheshire neutral in the

English Civil War The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians (" Roundheads") and Royalists led by Charles I ("Cavaliers"), mainly over the manner of England's governance and issues of re ...

. * 23–28 September 1642:

Charles I Charles I may refer to: Kings and emperors * Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings * Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily * Charles I of ...

in Chester. * 13 March 1643:

First Battle of Middlewich The First Battle of Middlewich took place on 13 March 1643, during the First English Civil War, and was fought between the Parliamentarians, under Sir William Brereton, and the Royalist supporters of King Charles I of England, under Sir ...

in English Civil War. * 24 January 1644:

Battle of Nantwich The Battle of Nantwich was fought on 25 January 1644 in Cheshire during the First English Civil War. In the battle, Sir Thomas Fairfax in command of a Parliamentarian relief force defeated Lord Byron and the Royalists. The Parliamentari ...

in the English Civil War. * November 1644–February 1645: Siege of Chester. * 24 September 1645:

Battle of Rowton Heath The Battle of Rowton Heath, also known as the Battle of Rowton Moor, occurred on 24 September 1645 during the English Civil War. Fought by the Parliamentarians, commanded by Sydnam Poyntz, and the Royalists under the personal command of King ...

in the English Civil War. * 3 February 1646: Chester surrenders to the

Parliamentary A parliamentary system, or parliamentarian democracy, is a system of democratic governance of a state (or subordinate entity) where the executive derives its democratic legitimacy from its ability to command the support ("confidence") of the ...

forces. * 21 October 1650: First record of the

Cheshire cheese Cheshire cheese is a dense and crumbly cheese produced in the English county of Cheshire, and four neighbouring counties, Denbighshire and Flintshire in Wales and Shropshire and Staffordshire in England. History Cheshire cheese is one of ...

trade with London. * 1655: Cheshire under military rule, governed by

Charles Worsley Charles Worsley (24 June 1622 – 12 June 1656) was an English soldier and politician. He was an ardent supporter of Oliver Cromwell and was an officer in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War and the Commonwealth of England. H ...

. * 1657: Stagecoach service begins between London and Chester. * 1670: Smith-Barry family re-discovers salt in Northwich and mining restarts. * 1674: John Ray's ''Collection of English Words'' includes written record of the Cheshire dialect.Leigh E. Introduction in: ''A Glossary of Words Used in the Dialect of Cheshire'' (Hamilton, Adams, and Co./Minshull and Hughes; 1877)
(accessed 14 July 2010) * 1687: James II visits Chester. * 6 June 1690: William III stays at

on his way to the

Battle of the Boyne The Battle of the Boyne ( ga, Cath na Bóinne ) was a battle in 1690 between the forces of the deposed King James II of England and Ireland, VII of Scotland, and those of King William III who, with his wife Queen Mary II (his cousin and J ...

18th century

* 1700: Brine springs are discovered at

Winsford Winsford is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, on the River Weaver south of Northwich and west of Middlewich. It grew around the salt mining industr ...

. * 1735–36: The New Cut dug along the River Dee from Chester to

Connah's Quay Connah's Quay ( cy, Cei Connah), known locally as "The Quay" and formerly known as Wepre, is a town and community in Flintshire, lying within the Deeside conurbation along the River Dee, near the border with England. It is the largest town in ...

because of silting of the river. * 1744:

Charles Roe Charles Roe (7 May 1715 – 3 May 1781) was an English industrialist. He played an important part in establishing the silk industry in Macclesfield, Cheshire and later became involved in the mining and metal industries. Early life and caree ...

builds a

watermill A watermill or water mill is a mill that uses hydropower. It is a structure that uses a water wheel or water turbine to drive a mechanical process such as milling (grinding), rolling, or hammering. Such processes are needed in the production of ...

in Macclesfield and triggers start of the

silk Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the ...

industry. * 12 May 1762: Creation of the title of Baron Vernon, of Kinderton in the County of Chester. Worsley packet house closeup large image

* 1763: Cheshire Hunt founded. * March 1776:

Bridgewater Canal The Bridgewater Canal connects Runcorn, Manchester and Leigh, in North West England. It was commissioned by Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, to transport coal from his mines in Worsley to Manchester. It was opened in 1761 from Wor ...

complete throughout its length from

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

to Runcorn. * 1777: Completion of the Trent and Mersey Canal. * 1779: The

Chester Canal The Chester Canal was an English canal linking the south Cheshire town of Nantwich with the River Dee at Chester. It was intended to link Chester to Middlewich, with a branch to Nantwich, but the Trent and Mersey Canal were unco-operative abou ...

opens between Chester and Nantwich. * 1780: Chester Eastgate rebuilt. * 1780: Marston salt mine opens. * 1781: Chester Northgate rebuilt. * 1784: First mail coach runs through Cheshire, between London and Holyhead. * 1788: Chester Watergate rebuilt. * 1788–1815: Major rebuilding of

by Thomas Harrison * 1795: The

extended to

Ellesmere Port Ellesmere Port ( ) is a port town in the Cheshire West and Chester borough in Cheshire, England. Ellesmere Port is on the south eastern edge of the Wirral Peninsula, north of Chester, south of Birkenhead, southwest of Runcorn and south of ...

19th century

* July 1804:

Runcorn to Latchford Canal The Runcorn to Latchford Canal (or Old Quay Canal or Old Quay Cut or Black Bear Canal) was a man-made canal that ran from Runcorn, to the Latchford area of Warrington. It connected the Mersey and Irwell Navigation to the River Mersey at Runcor ...

opens. * 1806: The

Middlewich Branch The Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal is located in Cheshire, in the north west of England, and runs between Middlewich, where it joins the Trent and Mersey Canal, and Barbridge Junction, where it joins the main line of the Shrops ...

opens, linking the Shropshire Union and the Trent and Mersey Canals. * 1808–10: Chester Northgate rebuilt. *8 May 1817: Early paper on Cheshire dialect read at Society of Antiquaries by

Roger Wilbraham Sir Roger Wilbraham (4 November 1553 – 31 July 1616) was a prominent English lawyer who served as Solicitor-General for Ireland under Elizabeth I and held a number of positions at court under James I, including Master of Requests and survey ...

. * 1812:

Delamere Forest Delamere Forest is a large wood in the village of Delamere in Cheshire, England. The woodland, which is managed by Forestry England, covers an area of making it the largest area of woodland in the county. It contains a mixture of deciduous and ...

disforested. * 1832: The future

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...

opens the

Grosvenor Bridge Grosvenor Bridge, originally known as, and alternatively called Victoria Railway Bridge, is a railway bridge over the River Thames in London, between Vauxhall Bridge and Chelsea Bridge. Originally constructed in 1860, and widened in 1865 and 1 ...

in Chester. * 1837:

Crewe railway station Crewe railway station is a railway station in Crewe, Cheshire, England. It opened in 1837 and is one of the most historically significant railway stations in the world.Crewe Hall Crewe Hall is a Jacobean mansion located near Crewe Green, east of Crewe, in Cheshire, England. Described by Nikolaus Pevsner as one of the two finest Jacobean houses in Cheshire,Pevsner & Hubbard, p. 22 it is listed at grade I. Built in 16 ...

. * 1838: First meeting of the Cheshire Agricultural Society. * 1839: Foundation of Chester Diocesan Training College, now the

University of Chester , mottoeng = "He that teacheth, on teaching" , former_names = , established = (gained university status in 2005) , type = Public , endowment = £395,000 (2018) , budget = £118.3 million , chancellor = Gyles Brandreth , vice_chancell ...

. * 1840: Crewe–Chester–Birkenhead railway line opens. * 1843:

Crewe Railway Works Crewe Works is a British railway engineering facility located in the town of Crewe, Cheshire. The works, which was originally opened by the Grand Junction Railway in 1840, employed around 7,000 to 8,000 workers at its peak. In the 1980s, a lot ...

opens. * 1843: Foundation of the

Chetham Society The Chetham Society "for the publication of remains historic and literary connected with the Palatine Counties of Lancaster and Chester" is a text publication society and registered charity (No. 700047) established on 23 March 1843. History The ...

. * 1845: Crewe Railway Works completes its first locomotive, ''Columbine''. * 24 May 1847: Five people are killed in the Dee bridge disaster when a girder of the railway bridge crossing the River Dee fractures. * 1848: Chester railway station opens. * 1855–76: George Gilbert Scott works on restoring Chester Cathedral. * 1857:

Cheshire Constabulary Cheshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing the English unitary authorities of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Borough of Halton and Borough of Warrington. The force is responsible for policing an are ...

founded. * 1862: Chester Exchange is gutted by fire. * 1865–66: Devastating outbreak of

rinderpest Rinderpest (also cattle plague or steppe murrain) was an infectious viral disease of cattle, domestic buffalo, and many other species of even-toed ungulates, including gaurs, buffaloes, large antelope, deer, giraffes, wildebeests, and warthog ...

(cattle plague) causes the collapse of the county's economy. * 1867: Grosvenor Park opens in Chester. * 21 May 1868: The first train crosses

Runcorn Railway Bridge The Runcorn Railway Bridge, Ethelfleda Bridge or Britannia Bridge crosses the River Mersey at Runcorn Gap between Runcorn and Widnes in Cheshire, England. It is alongside the Silver Jubilee Bridge. The bridge is recorded in the National Herita ...

. * 1869: Railway line opens between

Weaver Junction Weaver Junction is a railway junction connecting the West Coast Main Line (WCML) with the Weaver Junction–Liverpool line, opening on 1 April 1869. Trains bound for Liverpool from London diverge from the WCML at this junction. Weaver Junction i ...

and Liverpool via Runcorn. * 15 October 1869:

Chester Town Hall Chester Town Hall is in Northgate Street in the centre of the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. History In 1698 an exchange was built ...

opened by Prince of Wales, later King

Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria and ...

. * 1871: Population: 561,201. * 1874: John Brunner and

Ludwig Mond Ludwig Mond FRS (7 March 1839 – 11 December 1909) was a German-born, British chemist and industrialist. He discovered an important, previously unknown, class of compounds called metal carbonyls. Education and career Ludwig Mond was born ...

found

Brunner Mond Brunner may refer to: Places * Brunner, New Zealand * Lake Brunner, New Zealand * Brunner Mine, New Zealand * Brunner, Houston, United States * Brunner (crater), lunar crater Other uses * Brunner (surname) * Brunner the Bounty Hunter, a cha ...

Winnington Winnington is a small, mainly residential area of the town of Northwich in Cheshire, England. Industry Winnington is the home to Brunner Mond UK chemical works, where soda ash is created. Polythene, the material used in many plastic items (e.g ...

near Northwich and start manufacturing

soda ash Sodium carbonate, , (also known as washing soda, soda ash and soda crystals) is the inorganic compound with the formula Na2CO3 and its various hydrates. All forms are white, odourless, water-soluble salts that yield moderately alkaline solutions ...

. * 1874:

Cheshire Lines Committee The Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC) was formed in the 1860s and became the second-largest joint railway in Great Britain. The committee, which was often styled the Cheshire Lines Railway, operated of track in the then counties of Lancashire a ...

opens railway line between Manchester and Chester via Altrincham. * 1875:

Anderton Boat Lift The Anderton Boat Lift is a two caisson lift lock near the village of Anderton, Cheshire, in North West England. It provides a vertical link between two navigable waterways: the River Weaver and the Trent and Mersey Canal. The structure is de ...

opens. * 1877: Glossary of Cheshire dialect published by

Egerton Leigh Egerton Leigh (7 March 1815 – 1 July 1876) was a British landowner, soldier, Conservative politician and author. Personal life Leigh was the only son of Egerton Leigh and Wilhelmina Sarah, daughter of George Stratton, and succeeded his fat ...

. * 11 March 1878: Foundation of the

Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire The Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire is a text publication society that publishes historical documents relating to the traditional counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. It became a registered charity (No. 500434) for public education ...

. * 1881: The west tower of

collapses. * 1886: The

Grosvenor Museum Grosvenor Museum is a museum in Chester, Cheshire, in the United Kingdom. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. Its full title is The Grosvenor Museum of Natural History and Archa ...

opens in Chester. * 1886: Rail tunnel under the River Mersey opens between Liverpool and Birkenhead. * 1889:

Cheshire County Council Cheshire County Council was the county council of Cheshire. Founded on 1 April 1889, it was officially dissolved on 31 March 2009, when it and its districts were superseded by two unitary authorities; Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East. ...

founded. * 1891: Population: 730,058. * 21 May 1894: Manchester Ship Canal officially opened by

. * 27 May 1899: Official opening of Eastgate Clock in Chester on Queen Victoria's 80th birthday.

20th century

* 1901: Population: 815,099. * 29 May 1905: Widnes-Runcorn Transporter Bridge officially opened by Sir John Brunner. *1914: Completion of 800 houses were built since 1899 at

Port Sunlight Port Sunlight is a model village and suburb in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside. It is located between Lower Bebington and New Ferry, on the Wirral Peninsula. Port Sunlight was built by Lever Brothers to accommodate workers in it ...

to house a population of 3,500. * 1921: Cheshire School of Agriculture opens at Worleston. * 1926: Imperial Chemical Industries is created. *1931:

Chester Zoo Chester Zoo is a zoo at Upton-by-Chester, Cheshire, England. Chester Zoo was opened in 1931 by George Mottershead and his family. It is one of the UK's largest zoos at . The zoo has a total land holding of approximately . Chester Zoo is ope ...

opens. *1938: Newgate opens in Chester. *1951:

are revived. *21 July 1961: Runcorn-Widnes road bridge (later named the

Silver Jubilee Bridge The Silver Jubilee Bridge (originally the Runcorn–Widnes Bridge or informally the Runcorn Bridge) crosses the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal at Runcorn Gap between Runcorn and Widnes in Halton, England. It is a through arch br ...

) is opened by Princess Alexandra. * 1964: Runcorn New Town is designated. *1969: First

conservation areas Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...

designated, including Chester and

. * 1 April 1974: Cheshire boundaries changed by Local Government Act 1972. Runcorn and

Widnes Widnes ( ) is an industrial town in the Borough of Halton, Cheshire, England, which at the 2011 census had a population of 61,464. Historically in Lancashire, it is on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form th ...

merge to form the

Borough of Halton ("Industry fills the ship") , image_skyline = Runcorn Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1701094.jpg , imagesize = , image_caption = The Silver Jubilee Bridge at dusk , image_flag ...

. * 1982: Norton Priory Museum opens. * 1983:

closes. * 26 February 1993:

IRA Ira or IRA may refer to: *Ira (name), a Hebrew, Sanskrit, Russian or Finnish language personal name *Ira (surname), a rare Estonian and some other language family name *Iran, UNDP code IRA Law *Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, US, on status of ...

explosive devices go off at

Warrington Warrington () is a town and unparished area in the borough of the same name in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Mersey. It is east of Liverpool, and west of Manchester. The population in 2019 was estimat ...

gasworks. * 20 March 1993::

explosive devices kill two children and injure 54 people in

. * 1 April 1998: Halton and

become unitary authorities.

21st century

* 2002:

reopens. * 1 September 2007: The

Cheshire Regiment The Cheshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. The 22nd Regiment of Foot was raised by the Duke of Norfolk in 1689 and was able to boast an independent existence of over 300 years. ...

merges into the

Mercian Regiment The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire, Worcesters and Foresters, and Staffords) is an infantry regiment of the British Army, which is recruited from five of the counties that formed the ancient kingdom of Mercia. Known as 'The Heart of England's Infant ...

. * 1 April 2009: Two unitary authorities of Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East replace Cheshire County Council and its districts. * 14 October 2017: Mersey Gateway Bridge, a six-lane road bridge crossing the

River Mersey The River Mersey () is in North West England. Its name derives from Old English and means "boundary river", possibly referring to its having been a border between the ancient kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria. For centuries it has formed par ...

between Runcorn and Widnes, opens.

Notes

References

*Beck, J. (1969). ''Tudor Cheshire''. ''A History of Cheshire'', Vol. 7 (Series Editor: J.J. Bagley), Cheshire Community Council, *Bu'Lock, J.D. (1972). ''Pre-Conquest Cheshire: 383–1066''. ''A History of Cheshire'', Vol. 3 (Series Editor: J.J. Bagley), Cheshire Community Council * *Driver, J.T. (1971). ''Cheshire in the Later Middle Ages''. ''A History of Cheshire'', Vol. 6 (Series Editor: J.J. Bagley), Cheshire Community Council * * *Local History Group, Latham FA. (ed.) (1999). ''Wrenbury and Marbury''. The Local History Group. * * *Tigwell, RE. (1985). ''Cheshire in the Twentieth Century''. ''A History of Cheshire'', Vol. 12 (Series Editor: JJ Bagley), Cheshire Community Council, * {{DEFAULTSORT:Timeline Of Cheshire History Cheshire Cheshire