Chester Racecourse, known as the Roodee, is according to official records the oldest racecourse still in use in England.Horse racing at Chester dates back to the early sixteenth century. It is also thought to be the smallest racecourse of significance in England at 1 mile and 1 furlong (1.8km) long.
History
The 65-acre (260,000m2) racecourse lies on the banks of the River Dee. The site was once a harbour during the Roman settlement of the city during the Dark Ages, but was closed as the river silted up thus making navigation impossible. Towards the centre of the in field is a raised mound which is decorated by a small cross known as a "rood". It is from this that the race course derives the name "Roodee"; Roodee is a corruption of "Rood Eye", meaning "The Island of the Cross".
According to legend the cross marks the burial site of a statue of the Virgin Mary sentenced to hang after causing the death of Lady Trawst, the wife of the Governor of Hawarden. The legend states that she had gone to church to pray for rain but when her prayers were answered by a tremendous thunderstorm the statue was loosened and fell, killing her. As a holy object, hanging or burning the statue would be sacrilege so the statue was left by the banks of the river and the tide carried it down to Chester. The statue was found guilty by a jury of 12 men. If the legend is true, then this is the first recorded case of a jury being used in a court.
The first council had 62 members and was elected as a shadow authority (known as Chester District Council) on 7 June 1973. The council came into its powers on 1 April 1974, on which date a royal charter and letters patent came into force with the authority becoming Chester City Council and the chairman of the council having the title of mayor. An election of the whole council was held again in 1976.
The number of councillors was reduced to 60 at the next council election in 1979. Thereafter the city council elections were "by thirds": with 20 councillors retiring in three out of every four years. In the fourth year, elections to Cheshire County Council took place.
Chester is a historic home located near Homeville, Sussex County, Virginia. It was built in 1773, and is a two-story, three bay, frame dwelling with side gable roof. It features two exterior chimney stacks, joined on both the first and second floor levels
by pent closets. Attached to the main section is a two-story wing with an exterior chimney and a shallow gable roof added in the 1820s.
The Chester Transportation Center is a SEPTAbus and train station in Chester, Pennsylvania. The outside portion of the ground level serves SEPTA City Transit Division Route 37, and Suburban Transit Division Routes 109, 113, 114, 117, 118, and 119.
Above the building of the transportation center is the train station. The tracks run over the building. The station is served by the Wilmington/Newark Line. The line offers southbound service to Wilmington and Newark, Delaware and northbound service to Philadelphia. This station is located at 6th and Welsh Streets, Chester, PA 19013.
History
Chester station was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1903. In the 1940s lots of NY-Washington trains stopped there; in 1970 one Philadelphia-Washington train stopped, and in 1978-83 Amtrak's Chesapeake stopped both ways between Philadelphia and Washington. PRR/PC/Conrail local trains to Marcus Hook/Wilmington/Newark continued until SEPTA took them over in 1983.
ChesterRacecourse drips with history ...Grand plans are afoot at Chester Racecourse to construct new hospitality and operational facilities at the historic course.
Odds were looking good for the Chester hopefuls as they started from the historic racecourse and it was MartinArcher who was first to finish in a PB in 1.54.13.
Other results ...MelanieCrompton completed the Chester Half-Marathon on Sunday. The race started at Chester Racecourse and participants ran through Chester city centre and out to the countryside before heading back to Chester for the finish ... .
At a preliminary hearing, at ChesterRacecourse today, lawyers for core participants made submissions on whether the hearings should be broadcast to the public ... At a preliminary hearing, at Chester ...
Two revellers enjoy a glass of bubbly in one of the bars at ChesterRacecourse today ... But each stand at Chester Racecourse adheres to a specific dress code policy and those who don't uphold it may be refused access to the event.
... atmosphere at Chester racecourse on Friday as the country’s oldest still-active racecourse celebrates the 200th anniversary of its most popular race, the Chester Cup.
A double century is an impressive age for any sporting event, so there promises to be a party atmosphere at Chester racecourse on Friday when the country’s oldest active racecourse celebrates the ...
Lady Justice Thirlwall, the senior judge chairing the investigation into the activities of ex-neonatal nurse Letby, last week confirmed the first public hearing will take place at ChesterRacecourse on May 16.
... into the activities of the ex-neonatal nurse at the Countess of ChesterHospital, in Chester, Cheshire, confirmed the first public hearing will take place at Chester Racecourse on May 16.
