Chester Society for Landscape History

Upper storeys of Chester’s iconic Rows (Photograph: Vanessa Greatorex)

What is Landscape History?

Landscape History is the study of how people have altered the landscape through time.

It seeks to explain the historical significance of the buildings, earthworks, flora and other physical features which are our common heritage. It embraces aspects of history, archaeology, architecture, geography, geology, botany and other disciplines.

“The English landscape itself, to those who know how to read it aright, is the richest historical record we possess.” – W.G. Hoskins.

Forthcoming Events

Saturday 27 January 2024, 2pm
Suffer Little Children: The Foundling Hospital at Chester
(Dr Anthony Annakin-Smith)
Venue: St Columba’s Church Hall, Plas Newton Lane, Chester, CH2 1SA
Admission: Members Free, Visitors £4, Student Visitors £2

Saturday 24 February 2024, 2pm
The Chester to Holyhead Railway
(Dr Philip Lloyd)
Venue: St Columba’s Church Hall, Plas Newton Lane, Chester, CH2 1SA
Admission: Members Free, Visitors £4, Student Visitors £2

Saturday 23 March 2024, 2pm
Archaeology and Landscape Changes at Norton Priory
(Dr Robert Philpott, FSA)
Venue: St Columba’s Church Hall, Plas Newton Lane, Chester, CH2 1SA
Admission: Members Free, Visitors £4, Student Visitors £2

Saturday 27 April 2024, 2pm
Underlying Geology in the History and Development of Liverpool
(Emeritus Professor Jim Marshall, Wirral Geology and Landscape Project)
Venue: St Columba’s Church Hall, Plas Newton Lane, Chester, CH2 1SA
Admission: Members Free, Visitors £4, Student Visitors £2

Picks of the Week

Every week our Information Officer emails members links providing details of forthcoming events, activities and online resources related to landscape history in Britain and beyond. Here are a few of this week’s recommendations:

Cheshire Directories, 1789-1910
PDFs of 11 directories, forming a superb reference source about many aspects of the county’s past.
http://cheshiredirectories.manuscripteye.com/index.htm

15th C French painting depicts a precisely drawn prehistoric tool
https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/acheulean-handaxe-painting-0019589

Old maps of Liverpool
https://historic-liverpool.co.uk/old-maps-of-liverpool/

Selected Previous Picks of the Week

Here are some previous recommendations which can still be enjoyed:

When did humans start burying their dead?
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/when-did-humans-start-burying-their-dead?utm_term=45CAB862-7568-43AB-A667-BD7298D261D3&lrh=84ce638986bc73b191ec0774c05a547009942838093c58c9450b62a0b824de21&utm_campaign=368B3745-DDE0-4A69-A2E8-62503D85375D&utm_medium=email&utm_content=99C8F233-401C-4298-B580-CF8DF1C6C222&utm_source=SmartBrief

The Country Seat: Brereton Hall and other Prodigy houses
This is part of a recent for-sale ad but contains a wealth of interesting information about famous houses built in a distinctive architectural style
https://thecountryseat.org.uk/2013/11/14/a-minor-prodigy-brereton-hall-for-sale/

Deep History of Cheshire
https://www.themeister.co.uk/hindley/domesticated_animals.htm

Oldest human footprints in North America really are 23,000 years old
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/debate-settled-oldest-human-footprints-in-north-america-really-are-23000-years-old-study-finds?utm_term=45CAB862-7568-43AB-A667-BD7298D261D3&lrh=84ce638986bc73b191ec0774c05a547009942838093c58c9450b62a0b824de21&utm_campaign=368B3745-DDE0-4A69-A2E8-62503D85375D&utm_medium=email&utm_content=15F87901-BC4D-4B09-A247-485866993183&utm_source=SmartBrief

Scotland’s Most Mysterious Stone-Age Settlements
https://www.ancient-origins.net/videos/orkney-islands-stone-age-settlements-0019594?utm_source=jeeng&utm_medium=email&trigger=click

The Cheshire Regiment at the Battle of the Somme
https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/history/cheshire-regiment-key-role-battle-11546389

Lancashire walk with fields, farms and carvery pub
For directions, see:
https://www.lancs.live/whats-on/whats-on-news/perfect-lancashire-walk-fields-farms-27838327?utm_source=lancs_live_newsletter&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter2&utm_medium=email&pure360.trackingid=

Ty Hyll: The Ugly House Wales
Why is it called the Ugly House and where can you find it?
https://thirdeyetraveller.com/the-ugly-house-wales-ty-hyll-betws-y-coed/

Spotter’s Guide to Autumn Birds
https://heartofenglandforest.org/spotters-guide-autumn-birds?utm_source=Heart+of+England+Forest+Communications&utm_campaign=27851f1316-ENEWSLETTER-JAN-2019_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_970ca1fa29-27851f1316-159908301&mc_cid=27851f1316&mc_eid=26c300a6b7

Welsh trails
Coed y Brenin Visitor Centre, near Dolgellau, for mountain biking, running and walking trails, includes two trails suitable for off road mobility scooters
https://naturalresources.wales/days-out/places-to-visit/north-west-wales/coed-y-brenin-visitor-centre/?lang=en

Public access to the Historic Environment records for Wales
https://archwilio.org.uk/wp/

Lost Lancashire village
https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/lancashire-village-wiped-from-map-22194160?utm_source=lancs_live_newsletter&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter2&utm_medium=email&pure360.trackingid=

Mapped: All the land, castles and coastline owned by the crown in Wales
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/mapped-land-castles-coastline-owned-27847564?utm_source=wales_online_newsletter&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter2&utm_medium=email

Archaeologists discover world’s oldest wooden structure
https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2023/09/20/archaeologists-discover-worlds-oldest-wooden-structure/

Make Wine Not War: Digs in England Reveal 1st Century Roman Vineyard
https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/roman-vineyard-england-0018877

The Frodsham and Helsby Circular Walk
https://easylifetraveller.com/frodsham-and-helsby-circular-walk/

Stanlow’s Secret Island
https://www.lancs.live/news/uk-world-news/secret-island-less-hour-lancashire-27730500?IYA-reg=76f0b7bd-acc7-413c-8f5a-cb891d809460

Dorothea Quarry Walk
https://www.ancient-origins.net/human-origins-science/gristhorpe-manronze-003406?utm_source=jeeng&utm_medium=email&trigger=click

Rare Roman Cavalry Swords Found in the Cotswolds
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/2-rare-roman-cavalry-swords-from-1800-years-ago-discovered-by-uk-metal-detectorist?utm_term=45CAB862-7568-43AB-A667-BD7298D261D3&utm_campaign=368B3745-DDE0-4A69-A2E8-62503D85375D&utm_medium=email&utm_content=4EEC7A56-0BA2-4FF6-BC3C-F4FDA259BA26&utm_source=SmartBrief

The Gristhorpe Man: a Bronze Age skeleton with a story to tell
https://www.ancient-origins.net/human-origins-science/gristhorpe-manronze-003406?utm_source=jeeng&utm_medium=email&trigger=click

From pits to flushes: the strange history of toilets
https://www.ancient-origins.net/videos/history-toilets-0019271?utm_source=jeeng&utm_medium=email&

Canal, crag and castle on this easy farmland walk in Cheshire
https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/things-to-do/23659572.cheshire-walk-peckforton-beeston-castle-circular/