Heritage Chester

Heritage Chester Festival celebrating Chester's history & heritage

⚔️ 22 September 1645 - The Breach That Shook Chester What really happened when Chester’s walls were battered by Parliame...
09/09/2026

⚔️ 22 September 1645 - The Breach That Shook Chester

What really happened when Chester’s walls were battered by Parliament’s cannons?

Come and see the breach for yourself and discover the weapons, equipment and stories behind the siege of Chester during the English Civil War.

📅 Tuesday 22 September, 2pm - 6pm
📍 Chester’s Civil War breach in Chester’s Roman Gardens
♿️ Fully Accessible
⚔️ FREE - Everyone Welcome

We’ll be bringing along weapons, equipment and objects and talking about the citizens who defended Chester, the soldiers who attacked it, and what life was like inside a besieged city. This is a chance to experience Chester’s Civil War history rather than simply read about it.

And standing here, where the fighting took place, you’ll be looking at one of the most important surviving reminders of the Siege of Chester.

381 years ago, this was the scene of an intense battle.

🗡️ Chester Awakes! 🗡️We're pleased to announce that the Chester Heritage Festival will return next year, running from Sa...
08/09/2026

🗡️ Chester Awakes! 🗡️

We're pleased to announce that the Chester Heritage Festival will return next year, running from Saturday 29th May to Sunday 6th June!

We're also on the lookout for people to get involved. Do you have an idea for an event you'd love to run during the festival? We want to hear from you!

📧 Get in touch at [email protected]

Save the date — more news coming soon! 🏰

Free to explore. Free to discover. ✨Heritage Open Days starts this Friday, 11 September, and runs right through to the 2...
08/09/2026

Free to explore. Free to discover. ✨

Heritage Open Days starts this Friday, 11 September, and runs right through to the 20th.

Ten days of free events, tours, talks and hands-on experiences across Chester and beyond - uncovering the Everyday History Heroes who shaped our streets but don't always make it into the textbooks.

👉 Explore the full programme and book now:
🔗 www.heritagechester.co.uk/heritage-open-days

Experience your community like never before. ✨Heritage Open Days is here, 11–20 September — and spaces are filling up fa...
04/09/2026

Experience your community like never before. ✨

Heritage Open Days is here, 11–20 September — and spaces are filling up fast!

From hidden towers and historic buildings to talks, tours and hands-on workshops, there's a whole city of stories waiting to be uncovered. This year we're celebrating Everyday History Heroes - the people behind Cheshire's story you won't always find in the textbooks.

Free events. Limited spots. Don't miss out.

👉 Explore the full programme and book your place now:
🔗 www.heritagechester.co.uk/heritage-open-days

You asked, we have delivered! 💪 Two of Chester's most requested hidden gems are reopening their doors for Heritage Open ...
25/08/2026

You asked, we have delivered! 💪

Two of Chester's most requested hidden gems are reopening their doors for Heritage Open Days.

🏭 The Shot Tower - Saturday 12 September, 11am–3pm
Step inside the historic 1799 Shot Tower and discover the industrial past behind one of the few surviving buildings of Chester's leadworks, once home to companies with international reach.

🌊 The Water Tower - Sunday 20 September, 11am–3pm
A rare chance to go inside this 14th-century tower on the City Walls, once standing in the River Dee itself and used by port authorities to monitor shipping and collect import duties. Grosvenor Museum will be on hand with artefacts telling the story of Chester as a trading centre.

Both are free to visit, drop-in, no booking required.

🔗 Find out more: https://www.heritagechester.co.uk/heritage-open-days

Doors are opening for booking! 🗝️Heritage Open Days runs 11–20 September, and you can now reserve your place at this yea...
25/08/2026

Doors are opening for booking! 🗝️

Heritage Open Days runs 11–20 September, and you can now reserve your place at this year's events.

Every year we shine a light on a different side of Cheshire's story - this time it's Everyday History Heroes, the volunteers and hidden figures who don't always make the textbooks but shaped our streets all the same.

Two firm favourites are back after popular demand: the Shot Tower and Water Tower both reopen their doors this year.

Spaces for ticketed events tend to go quickly, so if there's somewhere on your list, now's the time to book.

🔗 www.heritagechester.co.uk/heritage-open-days

With thanks to Cheshire West and Chester Council for their kind support from the Member's budget, helping make these events possible.

🕵️ Spycraft Experience is on the move! 🕵️Due to forecasted rain, we’re relocating this Thursday’s session — and your fir...
25/08/2026

🕵️ Spycraft Experience is on the move! 🕵️

Due to forecasted rain, we’re relocating this Thursday’s session — and your first mission is to track down our spy at his new hideout!

Can you be trusted with a secret? Step into Civil War Chester, crack codes and learn the concealment tricks real spies used to pass secret messages!

📍 New location: Grosvenor Museum, Newstead Gallery

📅 Thu 27th Aug, 11am–3pm
🎟️ Drop-in, no booking needed — FREE!

Best get your detective skills sharp — the game is afoot! 🔎

👉 heritagechester.co.uk/event-details/spycraft-experience-2

Grosvenor Museum and Stretton Watermill

🏰 Two towers open in Chester this week! 🏰Bonewaldesthorne's Tower & Camera Obscura - climb the spiral staircase to the d...
25/08/2026

🏰 Two towers open in Chester this week! 🏰

Bonewaldesthorne's Tower & Camera Obscura - climb the spiral staircase to the darkened chamber and see this ingenious optical device in action with our volunteers.
📅 TODAY, Tue 25th Aug, 2pm–4pm
📅 Thu 27th Aug, 11am–1pm
📅 Sat 29th Aug, 2:15pm–4:15pm
📅 Sun 30th Aug, 11am–1pm

King Charles Tower - this Medieval tower on Chester's City Walls, 380 years since King Charles I apparently watched the Battle of Rowton Moor from here.
📅 Sat 29th Aug, 1:45pm–3:45pm
📅 Sun 30th Aug, 11am–1pm
📍 Both on Chester's City Walls

🎟️ Free entry, no booking needed - just drop in and meet our friendly volunteers!

👉 heritagechester.co.uk/summerpopups

Heritage Open Days is coming home to Chester — 11–20 September 🏛️This year's theme? Everyday History Heroes.From the vol...
23/08/2026

Heritage Open Days is coming home to Chester — 11–20 September 🏛️

This year's theme? Everyday History Heroes.

From the volunteers who keep our historic buildings alive to the hidden figures who shaped our streets, we're celebrating the people behind Cheshire's story -the ones you won't always find in the textbooks.

Over 10 days, expect free events, tours, talks and hands-on experiences across the city and beyond - including Chester Town Hall, Bishop Lloyd's Palace, hidden Rows buildings, Cheshire Military Museum, and plenty more waiting to be discovered.

✨️ Plus, by popular demand, the Shot Tower and Water Tower open days are back! ✨️

The full programme is live now - take a look and start planning your itinerary!

📅 Booking opens tomorrow at 12 noon for ticketed events, so get ready to grab your spot.

With thanks to Cheshire West and Chester Council for their kind support from the Member's budget, helping make these events possible.

🔗 www.heritagechester.co.uk/heritage-open-days

🌿 A full week of FREE heritage fun in Chester! ☀️Here's what's on next week for the whole family - no charge, most drop-...
22/08/2026

🌿 A full week of FREE heritage fun in Chester! ☀️

Here's what's on next week for the whole family - no charge, most drop-in:

📖 Terrible Trolls: Storytelling with Jason Buck: Tue 25th, 11:30am–12pm
🧚 Fairytales with the Juicy Bits Left In: Tue 25th, 12:30pm–1pm
🔭 Bonewaldesthorne's Tower & Camera Obscura: Tue 25th, 2pm–4pm
📖 Folk Tales for Grown Ups with Jason Buck: Tue 25th, 3pm–4pm

🕵️ Spycraft Experience: Thu 27th, 11am–3pm
🔭 Bonewaldesthorne's Tower & Camera Obscura: Thu 27th, 11am–1pm

🔭 Bonewaldesthorne's Tower & Camera Obscura: Sat 29th, 2:15pm–4:15pm
🏰 Visit King Charles Tower: Sat 29th, 1:45pm–3:45pm
🔭 Bonewaldesthorne's Tower & Camera Obscura: Sun 30th, 11am–1pm
🏰 Visit King Charles Tower: Sun 30th, 11am–1pm

All FREE, most drop-in - bring the family and make the most of Chester's heritage this summer! 🏰

👉 heritagechester.co.uk/summerpopups

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