This original and pioneering book examines the role of the castle in the Norman conquest of England and in the subsequent administration of the country. The castle is seen primarily as an instrument of peaceful administration which rarely had a garrison and was more often where the sheriff kept his files and employed his secretariat. In most cases the military significance of the castle was minimal, and only a very few ever saw military action. For the first time, the medieval castle in England is seen in a new light which will attract the general reader of history and archaeology as much as the specialist in economic and social history.

For a stranger to Chester, the opportunity to explore the streets and buildings of a 2000 year old city, must promise much to the first time visitor. The presence of its almost intact circuit of medieval defensive walls, its many early churches, world famous shopping rows and its overtly historic character, all suggest a place that has its foundations in much more ancient times. However, the architecture of modern day Chester can be deceptive, with many buildings appearing to much older than they actually are, being designed by a small group of leading regional architects who combined to create what is commonly referred to as the Chester "Look", a mixture a half timbered vernacular buildings and classically inspired facades, both of which hark back to more ancient days. This book attempts to identify and explain the various histories of many of Chester's landmark sites and buildings, who built them, owned them and what purpose did they serve. within its 224 pages

This book presents a collection of papers from experts in a broad range of disciplines, including history, archaeology, genetics, and linguistics, to provide a detailed understanding of the Vikings in peace and in war. It focuses on one particularly exciting area of the Viking world, namely the north-west section of England, where they are known to have settled in large numbers. The 12 integrated studies in this book are designed to reinvigorate the search for Vikings in this crucial region and to provide must-reading for anyone interested in Viking history.