Halloween fun comes to the City Walls in Chester

Halloween fun comes to Chester’s historic City Walls this month, thanks to the hard work of local volunteers working in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Volunteers play a key role telling the story of the City Walls by arranging events, and specifically opening up King Charles’ Tower, bringing centuries of stories to life for visitors.

This half term between Saturday 26 and Thursday 31 October, between 11am and 3pm, there will be some free, family friendly Halloween fun provided by a spooky medieval surgeon at Bonewaldesthorne’s Tower – call in to see him if you dare!

Accompanied by fellow volunteers, local resident, Mike Graham, will transform himself into ‘Godfrey Garland’ to entertain visitors who attend his ‘surgery’.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Highways, Councillor Karen Shore said: “The Council is so grateful to the volunteers who help bring history to life along our famous City Walls. 

“Working with our heritage officers and Bridges and Structures team, they enable visitors to see inside the historic towers along the route and hear stories to entertain and educate them.

“A really big thank you for Mike and his fellow volunteers for arranging this during half term in the lead up to Halloween. I’m sure many visitors will enjoy being diagnosed by the spooky Godfrey Garland.”

Mike Graham said; “Come and experience medieval medicine in this historic tower - tooth extractions, amputations, bloodletting, Godfrey does the lot, and is looking forward to seeing you all! Expect a few surprises and ghostly tales for Halloween as well.”

The group of volunteers is always happy to welcome new members. If you’re interested in getting involved, speak to one of them on the City Walls during the half term holiday.

Bonewaldesthorne's Tower is rumoured to have been named after an officer in Queen Aethelflaed’s army.  Aethelflaed, daughter of Alfred the Great, was responsible for extending the City Walls during the 10^th century.

Bonewaldesthorne’s Tower was first documented in 1249, and eventually became a gatehouse to the 14^th century Water Tower.   The Water Tower joins Bonewaldesthorne’s Tower by a spur wall.  The Water Tower once stood in the river to protect the harbour and quays, to monitor shipping movements and ensure that the relevant customs dues were paid.  The river silted, however, and by the end of the 16^th century the tower had become landlocked.

For more information on the City Walls see the Council’s website.