This film is part of Free
Chester
From the Roman ruins to the Rows, two thousand years of history in Cheshire are introduced to a wider British public
Overview
Was King Harold smuggled up here to die after the Battle of Hastings? Did King Edgar build a palace here in the 10th century? Both historical Chester and mythical Chester get a nod in this travel documentary, which builds mystery around a place where fact is sometimes more remarkable than fiction. The Roman ruins, Chester Rows, and the cathedral are all stop-offs on our little tour.
Pleasant and sentimental, this is an easy watch, and could well have driven an extra visitor or two to the Cheshire town. Gaumont-British - initially just a subset of a French production company - was by the 1930s a large and highly influential studio, which also owned cinemas and had distribution interests. Material like this film was produced by its educational wing.
Related
Chester Zoo, Ceredigion Church and Chapel, and Carno Chester Zoo, Ceredigion Church and Chapel, and Carno
Home movie 1965 7 mins Silent Location: Chester
Chester Zoo – built for the conservation of animals - and churches and chapels in Ceredigion and Powys that are preserved for posterity.
North Wales, England: The Land of Castles and Waterfalls North Wales, England: The Land of Castles and Waterfalls
Travelogue 1907 15 mins Silent Location: Chester
An Edwardian excursion along the crenelated coast of North Wales from the walls of Chester to the wilds of Snowdonia.
Historic Chester Historic Chester
Travelogue 1921 14 mins Silent Location: Chester
Step inside the great city walls of Chester and embark on a tour of olde-worlde charm.
Scenes at Chester on the River Dee (1901) Scenes at Chester on the River Dee (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 8 mins Silent Location: Chester
Messing about in boats on the River Dee - fine frocks and frolics at Chester Regatta.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.