Did You Know?

Cheshire is a county in northwest England, known for its rural villages of half-timber and local red sandstone buildings and for its Industrial Revolution heritage, with links to neighbouring Manchester and Liverpool.

Cheshire's name was originally derived from an early name for Chester, and was first recorded as Legeceasterscir in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, meaning the shire of the city of legions. Although the name first appears in 980, it is thought that the county was created by Edward the Elder around 920.

The Cheshire Plains and countryside are dotted with pretty villages, many with traditional black-and-white timbered buildings. As for historic attractions, Tatton Park is hard to beat. The estate includes a fine neo-classical mansion, a medieval Old Hall and simply stunning gardens. Norton Priory is another wonderful site for garden lovers. 

Prehistoric burial grounds have been discovered at The Bridestones near Congleton and Robin Hood's Tump near Alpraham (Bronze Age). The remains of Iron Age hill forts are found on sandstone ridges at several locations in Cheshire.

The Packhorse Bridge over the River Dane at Three Shires Head, where Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire all meet. The spot was also a well-known meeting point for illegal prize-fighting, where the protagonists and crowd could hot-foot it over the appropriate county border when challenged by officials of other counties!

Cheshire is famous due to the chemical industry. It was dated back during the Roman era. The salt mining is very important for the industry in Cheshire. The locations of salt mining are in Northwich and Middlewich.

The tourism in Cheshire is flourished today. There are many local and international visitors in the county. Based on the report in 2003, there were 2.8 million people who visited the area.

Under a Tudor law it is supposedly illegal for Welshmen to enter Chester in Cheshire after nightfall – and apparently legal to shoot them with a bow and arrow within the city walls there after midnight?

The Welsh Historian Cambrensis wrote about the wonderful Cheshire cheese in the 12th century ; and certainly Cheshire people claim to have the most patriotic cheeses as they come in red, white and blue varieties.