Michael A. Stecker
Places Index |
Northern England Northumberland and Cheviot Hills |
Northumberland is the northernmost county
in England. It is a region of strongly contrasting landscapes from the
eastern coastal plain to the sparsely populated, rugged hills and moors of
the west and the densely populated urban and industrial areas, of the
coalfield and the River Tyne's valley to the south. The Cheviot Hills
stand 1,000-2,500 feet (300-760 m) high and , form the English-Scottish
border between southern Scotland and Cumbria. The county is famed for its
wild exposed scenery. Half the area is mountain and moorland with large
areas, notably Kielder, Wark, and Redesdale forests, taken over by the
British Forestry Commission. There is evidence of prehistoric settlement
in the area before the period of Roman domination began in AD 122, when
Hadrian's Wall from the River Tyne to the Solway Firth was constructed.
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Chester |
This most delightful of cities lies southwest of Liverpool near the north Wales border. It was originally built by the Romans to control the native tribes in North Wales and northern Britain. Chester abounds in medieval architecture and beautiful half-timbered buildings. The most famous of these is the complex known as "The Rows", a series of covered galleries above street-level shops lining Watergate, Eastgate, and Bridge Street. The layout of The Rows dates back to the 13th century. Another much admired landmark is the Eastgate Clock, built in 1897 to mark the Silver Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Its intricate iron framework, designed by architect John Douglas, is a marvel of ornate Victorian style. Another Chester gate, Wolf Gate (next to the present Newgate), has a romantic ghost story associated with it: It seems that Ellen Aldersley, daughter of a city alderman, eloped through the gate in 1573. In the years since then the ghostly clatter of her horse's hooves has occasionally been heard around the area of the gate.
Turning from wood to stone, one medieval building worth visiting is
Chester Cathedral, originally built as an abbey church for a Benedictine
monastery.
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