Chester city walls consist of a defensive structure built to protect the city. The fortress was initially defended by an earth rampart surmounted by a wooden palisade and surrounded by a ditch. From about 90 AD Chester was occupied by Legio XX Valeria Victrix, who started a programme of rebuilding, including the improvement of the walls. Starting in about 100 AD the earth walls were reconstructed using sandstone.

Following the Norman conquest the army of William the Conqueror arrived in Chester in 1069–70, and the king ordered that a castle should be built. This was constructed outside the site of the Roman fortress, to the southwest in an elevated position overlooking the River Dee. This necessitated the extension of the walls to the west and south to incorporate the castle, leading to the circuit of the walls currently present.

The walls are now a major tourist attraction, and form an almost complete circuit of the former medieval city, with a total walkway length of 2.95 kilometres (1.8 mi). Upkeep and repair of the walls continues to be a problem.

It's a pity that one gets the view of a large car park here. Through the arch there is a set of steps to get the city walls over a major road.

For more information see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_city_walls#References