About Cheshire

Cheshire is a county in the North West of England, bordering Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south and Flintshire, Wrexham and Denbighshire in Wales to the west. The county town is Chester. Cheshire's county flower is the red poppy and the county bird is the pied wagtail.

The area now covered by the county of Cheshire has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The county's name is derived from an early settlement called Chester, which was founded by the Romans in AD 79. The Saxons later took over the area and it became part of the Kingdom of Mercia. In the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, Cheshire is recorded as being divided into two parts: the northern part, which was under the control of the earl of Chester; and the southern part, which was a separate county called Macclesfield.

The Norman conquest saw Cheshire divided into a number of small earldoms, with the main one being that of Chester. In 1541, Cheshire was declared a county palatine by King Henry VIII, giving it a certain degree of autonomy from the rest of England. This lasted until 1844 when it was abolished by an act of parliament.

Cheshire has a long and rich history. It was an important county during the medieval period, with Chester being one of England's main ports. The county also has a number of significant country houses and stately homes, such as Cholmondeley Castle, Eaton Hall and Crewe Hall.

Cheshire is a largely rural county, with farming being an important industry. Dairy farming is particularly prevalent in the south of the county. Cheshire is also home to a number of large towns and cities, such as Chester, Warrington, Crewe, Ellesmere Port and Winsford.

The county of Cheshire is steeped in history and has a lot to offer both residents and visitors alike. Whether you're interested in exploring its rich past or enjoying its beautiful countryside, Cheshire is definitely worth a visit.