Cheshire - 348 places to stay
Hotels | Bed & Breakfast | Inns | Self Catering | Budget | Holiday Parks | Attractions | Activities | Shops | Sports | Directory
Principal Towns: Chester, Warrington, Knutsford, Stockport, Nantwich, Crewe, Macclesfield
A county in the North West of England Cheshire is mainly flat with a low ridge of sandstone hills leading North from Congleton with another ridge running from Malpas to Frodsham . The county is best known for its numerous small lakes and meres with its woods and parkland. Cheshire is part coastal overlooking the River Mersey which in turn is fed by the Rivers Bollin, Dee and the Weaver. This is a particularly fertile part of the North of England with numerous dairy farms and market gardens from where the local produce is sent to the nearby major cities of Liverpool and Manchester .
Such is the diversity of the industry within the County that coal and ironstone were worked in Macclesfield and Stockport whilst cotton and silk were also produced from mills that were established throughout the County. Shipbuilding along the banks of the River Mersey and salt was mined around Northwich and Nantwich , today there is a Salt Museum in Northwich to honour the economic contribution made by the slat mines.
The Romans had the largest influence in the region with their desire for good communication links and their need to control Wales, this they did with their fortification at Chester . Today along with the City Walls there are constant reminders of the Roman occupation with the remains of the amphitheatre, baths and other archaeological finds. A stroll along the streets of Chester will provide an insight into this former Roman stronghold and yet the City has integrated the old and the modern to such an extent that it is a popular tourist destination for visitors world wide.
After the Romans withdrew from Britain the Scandinavians invaded and despite their fearsome reputation as warriors they soon settled and began farming the land, clearing large areas of woodland to accommodate their needs.
By 1030 AD the area settled down to a period of great stability as it was under the guardianship of the grandson of Leofric of Mercia, part of the most powerful and influential family in England at that time.
The next period of Cheshire’s History was less peaceful with the Norman Conquest of 1066 AD. There was widespread confiscation of the lands by William I whole swathes of land were destroyed, villages razed to the ground, crops burnt, livestock slaughtered and people rendered landless, homeless and dispossessed. So total was this devastation that in 1086 the Domesday Survey recorded that most of the land in Cheshire was wasteland. Chester and Macclesfield were devastated however at Chester William rebuilt the castle and strengthened the walls adding further defences and making Chester one of the most heavily fortified cities in Britain at the time. From here William could control not just Chester but the whole of Cheshire and North Wales . Many new castles were built in the region at this time and indeed Beeston Castle today still remains as evidence of this troubled period in Cheshire’s history.
It would then take around two centuries for the area to recover, this is evidenced by the improvements in trade and commerce following the Conquest when many markets were established by Royal Charter throughout the region, in part made possible by new rights and freedoms which had been established by the Magna Carta. Around twenty-three official markets were known to exist in medieval Cheshire, but there were probably twice that number if unofficial markets are included.
This new period of prosperity and trade was again interrupted by the Civil War which again saw Cheshire being torn apart with peasants and aristocrats allying themselves with either the Parliamentarians of the Royalists. Eventually in 1664 England was placed under military rule and Cheshire became the responsibility of the infamous Charles Worsley who had a particular dislike of Royalists.
The 18th Century saw land and district reorganisations take place as industrialisation took place in many of the mill towns. Farm workers simply left and moved to the city abandoning their land which in turn was absorbed by the bigger estates so much so that 98% of the land in Cheshire was owned by 26% of the population at that time.
By the 19th Century Cheshire was a wealthy county it is estimated that there are more fine 18th and 19th century country houses in Cheshire than in any other English county.
Today Cheshire benefits from a mix of industrial and rural industries, salt mining, milk and cheese production as well as chemical and soap production. One part of Cheshire remains decidedly industrial with petro chemical works along the banks of the River Mersey, Ince Power Station and you cannot mention Cheshire without briefly mentioning Crewe where its wealth and success was born out of the railway industry and today is home to the Bentley motor car..
Rural Cheshire is today a pleasant and sought after location to live but it offers more than that to the millions of visitors who come every year to appreciate one of the most diverse counties in the United Kingdom where it is home to more millionaires than anywhere else in the country.
If you like this, Share it
Destinations
- Vale Royal
- Macclesfield
- Cheshire Peaks and Plains
- The Peak District
- Chester
- In the Footsteps of the Legions – Roman Chester
Recommended Hotels See Map
- Winslow Farmers Market *featured*
Licensed, Restaurant - Blossoms Hotel Chester *featured*
Licensed, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa Chester *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, TennisCourt, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Holiday Inn Chester South Chester *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Pheasant Inn Chester *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV - Statham Lodge Hotel Lymm *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Bridge Hotel Prestbury *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - De Vere Mottram Hall Prestbury *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - Chimney House Hotel Sandbach *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - The Bears Paw Sandbach *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - Peckforton Castle Tarporley *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - Paddington House Hotel Warrington *featured*
Licensed, Restaurant - Stanneylands Hotel Wilmslow *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Leasowe Castle Hotel Wirral *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities
Hotels bookable online See Map
- Manor House Hotel Alsager *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Bowdon Hotel And Leisure Club Altrincham *book online*
Licensed, Historic, Restaurant - Village Leisure Hotel Bromborough *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Frogg Manor Broxton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, TennisCourt, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Cheadle House Cheadle *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Comfort Inn Chester Chester *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV - Crowne Plaza Chester Chester *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant - Crowne Plaza Chester Chester *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Doubletree by Hilton Chester Chester *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Holiday Inn A55 Chester West Chester *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Gym, Restaurant, Satellite TV - Inglewood Manor Country House Hotel Chester *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, TennisCourt, Restaurant, Satellite TV - Thornton Hall Hotel Chester *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Satellite TV - Holiday Inn Express Crewe *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Hunters Lodge Hotel Crewe *book online*
Licensed, Restaurant - Ramada Encore Crewe Crewe *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Holiday Inn - Ellesmere Port Ellesmere Port *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Heathercliffe Hotel Frodsham *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV - The Cheshire Cat Nantwich *book online*
Licensed, Restaurant - Fairways Lodge & Leisure Club Prestwich *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Gym, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Rossett Hall Hotel Rossett *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Macdonald Portal Hotel Golf and Spa Tarporley *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Willington Hall Hotel Tarporley *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Heathercliffe Country House Hotel Warrington *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Belfry House Hotel Wilmslow *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Conference Facilities
More Cheshire Hotels
Bed and Breakfast See Map
- County Hotel Alderley Edge *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Ash Farm Country Guest House Altrincham *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Welbeck House Hotel Ashton Under Lyne *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Pymgate Lodge Airport Hotel Cheadle *featured*
TV in rooms - Alexandra House Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Alton Lodge Hotel Chester *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Inspected, Parking, Disabled - Astbury House Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Ba Ba Guest House Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Bawn Lodge Chester *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic - Bowman Lodge Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Catherine House Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Chester Court Hotel Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Chester House Chester *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Church College Close Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Cotton Farmhouse Chester *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Curzon Hotel Chester *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Dene Hotel Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Dene Hotel Chester *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Eaton Hotel Chester *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Fisher House Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Garden Gate Guest House Chester *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic, Parking - Grosvenor Place Guest House Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Higher Huxley Hall Chester *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Hollybank Court Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - John Douglas Court Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Kilmorey Lodge Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Lavender Lodge Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Lloyds of Chester Chester *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic - Maison Claire Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Margaret House Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Pennies Guest House Chester *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Powys Court Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - Shenley Lodge Chester *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Stone Villa Chester *featured*
TV in rooms - The Mount Chester *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Inspected, Parking - Westminster Hotel Chester *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Alexandra Court Hotel Congleton *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking, Disabled - HP Bed and Breakfast Congleton *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Lamb Inn Congleton *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Yew Tree Farm Congleton *featured*
TV in rooms - The Old Hall Country House Crewe *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Oakfield Lodge Disley *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, Historic, Parking - Barton Villa Dukinfield *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - The Farndon Farndon *featured*
TV in rooms - Peel Hey Country Guest House Frankby *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, Historic, Parking - The Cottage B & B Hale *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - The Hinton Knutsford *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Inspected, Parking - Chadwick House Hotel Macclesfield *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Holly Tree Farm Macclesfield *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Moorhayes House Macclesfield *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Happy Guests Lodge Northwich *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Brooklands Lodge Sale *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Overnight Stays Stockport *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, Parking, Disabled - New Farm Tarporley *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Parking, Disabled - Newton Hall Tattenhall *featured*
TV in rooms - Happy Guests Lodge Warrington *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Holly Lodge Warrington *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Victoria Lodge Warrington *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Villaggio Warrington *featured*
TV in rooms - New Farm Cheshire Wettenhall *featured*
TV in rooms - Hillcrest Hotel Widnes *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Handforth Lodge Wilmslow *featured*
TV in rooms - HeatherLea Guest House Wilmslow *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Kingsley Lodge Wilmslow *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Rylands Farm Guest House Wilmslow *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic, Inspected, Parking
Pubs & Inns
- The Bull's Head & Lodge Altrincham *book online*
Food, Children Welcome, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Pheasant Inn Burwardsley *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Pheasant Inn Burwardsley *featured*
Food, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Pymgate Lodge Cheadle *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - George and Dragon Chester *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Pied Bull Hotel Chester *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Stafford Hotel Chester *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - White Horse Inn Chester *featured*
Food, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Ye Olde Kings Head Chester *book online*
Food, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Lion and Swan Hotel Congleton *featured*
Food, Children Welcome, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Crewe Arms Crewe *book online*
Food, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Crewe Arms Hotel Crewe *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Quality Hotel Crewe Crewe *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Wheatsheaf Inn Crewe *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Horseshoe Inn Frodsham *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Pheasant Higher Burwardsley *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Dog Inn Knutsford *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Golden Pheasant Hotel Knutsford *book online*
Food, Children Welcome, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Cat & Fiddle Macclesfield *book online*
Food, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Narrowboat Middlewich *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Dog Inn Over Peover *book online*
Food, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - George & Dragon Tarvin *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Kings Arms Wilmslow *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards
Self-Catering See Map
- Royles Apartments Alderley Edge *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Wizards Thatch Luxury Suite Alderley Edge *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Quality Lets Cheadle *featured*
Pub Nearby, Garden, Short Breaks, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Chester Walls View Chester *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Lane Cottages Chester *featured*
Pub Nearby, Garden, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - No.1 Earls Villas Chester *book online*
Pub Nearby, Garden, Short Breaks, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Racecourse Penthouse Chester *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Kings at the Queen Chester *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Wharton Lock Apartment Chester *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Wharton Lock Apartment Chester *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Acre Hill Barn Congleton *book online*
Pub Nearby, Garden, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Lowe Street Mews Macclesfield *featured*
Pub Nearby, Garden, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Cholmondeley Castle Malpas *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Granary Nantwich *book online*
Pub Nearby, Garden, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Byre Tarporley *book online*
Pub Nearby, Garden, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - New Farm Wettenhall *featured*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards
Brit Quote: |
|
On this day: |