Maps

Chester is fortunate to have been mapped many times. To save space we have not included copies of all the maps here (they tend to be large)

Maps on this site

 * Braun and Hogenberg - 1581. The first known map of Chester.


 * Smith Map - c.1588. Almost contemporaneous with the above but showing slight differences in the layout of the streets.


 * John Speed - 1610. A few years after the previous two, and by now the Watertower appears to be on dry land. There appears to be no sign of the Phoenix Tower in this one, but the waterworks have appeared at the Bridgegate.


 * Hollar's Map - 1660's. The Phoenix Tower is back and the Watertower is definitely out of the water. The waterworks are still in the center of Bridegate so that dates the map before the destruction of the waterworks tower in the Civil War.


 * Hemingways Map - showing the city at the time of the Civil War (1645). However his Bridgegate has the waterworks tower in the position it was rebuilt in somewhat later, now above the western side of the Bridgegate.


 * Lavaux Map - just before the Canal (1745). A recognizably more modern style of map, with the new course of the River Dee below Chester quite clear. The Watertower now stands well clear of the River Dee. No canal yet!


 * Mutlow and Stockda1es Map - engraved by J.Mutlow, published by John Stockdale in 1795. This shows the original canal, with no branch to Ellesmere Port.


 * Coles Map - engraved by John Roper for publication in "The Beauties Of England And Wales", that was published in parts, from c.1804. The Ellesmere Port branch of the canal appears.


 * 1872 OS Map - The Ordanance Survey Map from 1872. Chester before the ring-road, but the Grosvenor Bridge and the railways have arrived. Building outside of the old city area is just starting.

Sources and Links

 * Mapping Medieval Chester;
 * ChesterWalls.info maps;
 * Maps of Chester and Cheshire from "Genmaps";