Chester Society for Landscape History
Upper storeys of Chester’s iconic Rows (Photograph: Vanessa Greatorex)
Forthcoming Events
Chester Society for Landscape History at Chester Festival of Ideas
Date: Thursday 2 July 2026
Venue: Chester Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HJ
Admission: Free, but booking advisable
Members of Chester Society for Landscape History will be giving the following talks:
11am: Cheshire as a Palatinate (Professor Graeme J. White)
2pm: How Old Am I? Trying to Date Buildings in our Rural and Urban Landscapes
(Dr Sharon Varey)
2pm: The Early Neston Collieries: Seven Reasons Why They Were Remarkable
(Dr Anthony Annakin-Smith)
For more details of talks and how to book, see https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/
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, The Making of the English Landscape (1955).
Picks of the Week
Here are some links to online landscape history resources recently recommended by our Information Officer:
Llangelynin Old Church and St Celynin’s well
Now holding services only three times a year as the result of a shifting population, the existing L-shaped old church at Llangelynin was built in the 12th or 13th century but may be on the site of an even older church. St Celynin’s well, in the southern corner of the churchyard, was traditionally credited with curing sick children.
https://wellhopper.wales/2011/09/07/st-celynins-well-near-henryd-conwy/
Peatland restoration in the Pennines
Sphagnum moss is the key to the regeneration of carbon-storing peatlands, and encouraging evidence indicates that the techniques being implemented in the Pennine hills are helping to reverse climate change.
https://theconversation.com/the-pennine-hills-are-full-of-holes-heres-how-theyre-helping-fight-climate-change-282925?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20Weekender%20-%203777838717&utm_content=The%20Weekender%20-%203777838717+CID_0b3ba5e8c874dc2897a7039512cbfb8f&utm_source=campaign_monitor_uk
High density town planning
Higher density neighbourhoods are on the Government’s agenda, but such developments are not universally accepted in England.
https://theconversation.com/new-towns-are-back-but-this-time-they-must-be-more-walkable-282684?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20May%2022%202026%20-%203777938688&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20May%2022%202026%20-%203777938688+CID_92df80263ee542f0b2508c19d4ddc106&utm_source=campaign_monitor_uk&utm_term=New%20towns%20are%20back%20%20but%20this%20time%20they%20must%20be%20more%20walkable
Click on the blue text at the end of this sentence for links to previously recommended Online Resources or for links to specific topics, including: Directories/Databases/Aerial Photographs, Geology, Ecosystems, Prehistory, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Viking, Medieval, Tudor and Stuart, Castles, Churches/Cathedrals/Shrines, Industrial, Cheshire, Wales, Other Locations.