Millennium festival trail

All 40 buildings on the Millennium Trail were selected by local people as outstanding examples of Chester’s architectural development over two millennia, from Roman Chester to the present day. Each building is celebrated with its own unique "way-marker", created by artist [Michael Johnson]. The complete route is approximately 3 miles (5200m) long and can take anything about 2-5 hours, depending on detours and pubs (it also takes in most of the main shopping streets). The trail begins and ends at Chester Town Hall and Tourist Information Center. Look for the way-markers set in the ground: they are about 30cm across - but beware, some of them can be quite hard to find!

The route is not suitable for wheelchairs and prams as there are lots of steps and one remarkably steep street.


 * Millennium Trail at the Civic Trust;
 * Chester Tourist has a detailed guide to the trail with very many photographs of details to watch out for.

The Millennium Trail Map
Here is ChesterWiki's own guide to the Millennium Trail, with some extra locations and side expeditions added. If you "mouse-over" on the way-markers then you will see what the building is, and if you click then you will be taken to whatever information there is on ChesterWiki about the building.

=The Millennium Trail (and a few extras)=

Start at the Tourist Information Office by the Town Hall in Northgate Street

 * If the Town Hall is open then go in and look around....

Officially opened on 15 October 1869. On 27 March 1897 the council chamber on the second floor was gutted by fire; it was restored by T. M. Lockwood the following year. In 1979 a clock was installed in the tower with three faces; there is no face on the west side of the tower


 * Town Hall at English Heritage;
 * Town Hall on Wikipedia;

Cross the square to the Abbey Gateway

 * Don't miss the elephant!
 * Notice how the gate gets damaged by large modern vehicles;
 * Inside the gate look up at the ceiling to see the decorative corbels;

The gateway was built as a gatehouse around 1300 and its upper storey was rebuilt around 1800. It is thought that the architect was Richard Lenginour (Richard the Engineer).


 * Abbey Gateway at English Heritage;
 * Abbey Gateway at Wikipedia;

Pass through the gateway to reach Abbey Square
This elegant square was built in the mid 18th Century on the site of the Abbey Bakehouse and Brewery. The two earlier stone cottages were built by Bishop John Bridgeman in 1626. The column in the central garden is said to have come from the old Exchange building in 1756 (it probably wasn't).

On the opposite side of the square take the lane down to Kaleyard gate and get up onto the walls. Follow the walls along to the Bell Tower

 * See the carving in the Wall which represents the length of the Great Eastern;


 * Bell Tower at English Heritage;
 * Bell Tower on Wikipedia;

Continue along the walls and up the steps to the Eastgate Clock

 * Did you see the gravestone hidden in the wall?
 * The "brick and blue" water-tower in the distance is on the site of one of the springs from where water was supplied to Roman Chester;

Stay on the Walls until just after the Newgate then leave the Walls and walk down Park Street to the Nine Houses

 * Spot the Roman Corner Tower - this is where the original walls of Roman Chester would have taken a south-western course and the extension by the anglo-saxons countinues south-east;
 * Listen to the audio recordings in the two chambers on the Newgate;
 * Note the statue of a lion;
 * Note the house with "Fountain of Life" inscription;


 * Nine Houses at English Heritage;
 * Nine Houses on Wikipedia;

Go through the gate in the walls and through the Roman Gardens, then turn right to reach the Amphitheatre

 * See where the wall was damaged in the Civil War;
 * Examine the Hypocaust;

Cross to the other side of the Amphitheatre, and head towards St Johns Church

 * St Johns has spectacular ruins at both ends;
 * While the outside of the building is Victorian the inside is Norman!;
 * Don't miss the Coffin in the wall!

From the ruins at the far end of St Johns church head down the slope towards the River Dee and the Hermitage

 * On the right is Grosvenor Park (with some relics including Jacobs Well);
 * Ahead is the Suspension Bridge where the coats of arms appear mixed-up;

Turn right and walk along the River Dee towards the Norman Weir and the Old Dee Bridge

 * You'll meet the walls again;
 * Pass by the "Recorder's Steps" (with the wrong date on the plaque);
 * If you have the time, cross the river to visit the Minerva Shrine;

Enter Bridgegate and arrive at the Bear and Billet

 * Perhaps its time for a drink!

Head for the Castle gateway.

 * The Military Museum is just here.

Head back past the Grosvenor Museum and down Castle Street towards Gamul House

 * The Grosvenor Museum is worth a diversion
 * Gamul House is in Bridge Street;

Reach the Bridge Street Rows and continue past the Three Old Arches

 * There is a

Now turn right into Eastgate Street. Walk down to Brown's of Chester

 * Browns of Chester on Wikipedia;

St Werburghs Street

 * St Werburgh Street at English Heritage
 * St Werburgh Street on Wikipedia

Head down Watergate Street to Bishop Lloyd's House

 * Bishop Lloyd’s Palace at English Heritage;
 * Bishop Lloyd’s Palace at Wikipedia;

Keep going down Watergate Street and cross the inner ring road and down the hill to Stanley Palace

 * Stanley Palace at English Heritage;
 * Stanley Palace on Wikipedia;

Head on down Watergate Street to Watergate House

 * Watergate House at English Heritage;
 * Watergate House on Wikipedia;

Continue down to Watergate then turn right along the walls. Keep going until the Queens School

 * Queens on Wikipedia;

Continue along the walls, over the railway bridge to the Watertower

 * Note the old Infirmary as you pass it;
 * You can get down off the walls here to looks at Watergate Park and the Gloverstone;


 * Water Tower on English Heritage;
 * Water Tower on Wikipedia;

Head on along the walls, passing the Goblin Tower and Morgan's Mount, or (if you are collecting all the way-markers), go down off the walls and walk along the Canal

 * A short detour will take you to the Boatyard;

Arrive at St John's Hospital and the Northgate

 * Have a look at the "Bridge of Sighs"