The Chester City Walls are a system of defensive ramparts surrounding the the strategically important English city of Chester. This defence system has existed since the city was founded by the Romans in 79 A.D., at which time it in the form of wooden and earthen palisades. Most of the surviving walls date from the medieval and Victorian eras, although the oldest sections date from 120 and the newest from 1966. These are the best-preserved city walls in the UK.
In the 1st to 3rd century the walls were replaced by stone walls and at that time they enclosed a much smaller area. After the departure of the Romans, the walls virtually collapsed and were rebuilt in 907 on the orders of Queen Ethelfleda to protect the city from Viking raids. In 1070, Chester Castle was built and the perimeter of the walls was greatly extended to the River Dee.
After the Civil War, the walls were badly damaged and rebuilt in the era of King George's era. They have since become a favourite walking spot for the townspeople. В Walls are now considered an architectural monument and are protected by the by the state.
Interestingly, the local law has not yet been cancelled, according to which any Welsh person loitering within the city walls after sundown can be be beheaded or shot with an arrow. The law was introduced by King Henry V after the the Welsh rebellion. Although this law has not yet been repealed, today it does not exempt from prosecution for premeditated murder.
