History/market analysis 

Chester is the largest city within the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester.  Founded as a "castrum", or Roman fort, with the name Deva Victrix in the year 79AD, Chester's four main roads – Eastgate, Northgate, Watergate, and Bridge – follow routes laid out at that time. One of Rome's three primary army bases, Deva later became a major settlement in the Roman province of Britannia.  After the Romans left in the 5th century, the Saxons fortified the town against the Danes and gave Chester its name.

Chester was one of the final towns in England to fall in the Norman conquest of England. William the Conqueror ordered the construction of a castle to dominate the town and nearby Welsh border.  Although it has a reputation as being the pre-eminent English medieval city, many of Chester’s buildings are from the Victorian era and the city is recognised as one of the best – if not the best - preserved complete walled cities in the British Isles.

Chester played a significant role in the Industrial Revolution, which began in the North West of England in the latter part of the 18th century. The city village of Newtown, located northeast of the city and bounded by the Shropshire Union Canal was at the very heart of this industry. The large Chester Cattle Market and the two Chester Railway stations (Chester General and Chester Northgate Station) meant that Newtown with its cattle market and canal and Hoole with its railways were responsible for providing the vast majority of workers and, in turn, the vast amount of Chester's wealth production throughout the Industrial Revolution.

Today, a considerable amount of land in Chester is owned by the Duke of Westminster, in the family name of Grosvenor, which explains such City landmarks as the Grosvenor Bridge, the Grosvenor Hotel, and Grosvenor Park.

Population figures (2010)
Chester: 119,200
Cheshire West and Chester: 327,300
Liverpool: 445,200
Manchester: 498,800
North West: 6,935,700
England and Wales: 55,240,400

England and Wales: Population source: Office for National Statistics population estimates 2010. ONS Crown Copyright 2012.  Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.1.0.