The city of Chester grew up around one of the largest Roman fortresses in the country. Its cathedral and Norman castle are evidence of Chester’s importance in the Middle Ages. During the Industrial Revolution the arrival of canals and railways brought increasing prosperity to Chester, resulting in a further boom in building, and in the twentieth century the town expanded beyond the city walls. Today the city attracts many visitors to its numerous ancient buildings, not least the Rows, two-storey shops in the distinctive black-and-white architecture of the town, and the preserved circuit of city walls, and it is a thriving commercial centre for the area. Chester: The Postcard Collection takes the reader on an evocative journey into Chester’s past through a selection of old postcards that offer a fascinating window into the history of this city in Cheshire.