| In North West Britain, there is county Cheshire. The | | | | Stalybridge, and Hyde in the north-east became parts |
| city of Chester is the county town and the location | | | | of Greater Manchester. |
| of the county council is also there. Cheshire's largest | | | | Many geographical changes occurred and finally on 1 |
| town, both in region and population is Warrington. | | | | April 1998 Halton and Warrington became governing |
| Some other major towns are also here like Widnes, | | | | administrations, which were independent of Cheshire |
| Congleton, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Nantwich, Crewe, | | | | County Council, but still remained a part of Cheshire |
| Ellesmere Port, Northwich, and Wilmslow. The county | | | | for celebrating functions, as well as policing and fire. |
| share its borders with Derbyshire to the east, | | | | A referendum was passed for a further reforms in |
| Wrexham in Wales and Flintshire to the west, | | | | local government that was connected with a |
| Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, | | | | democratically elected regional assembly for 2004, |
| Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south. | | | | but was shelved . The Cuckoo flower was chosen as |
| This county is spread in an area of 905 sq miles | | | | the County flower by the conservation charity |
| (2,344 square kilometers) and population is around | | | | Plantlife in 2002. |
| 993,200. Mostly it is a rural County with various | | | | There are many historical sites to be seen by their |
| number of small and big cities, towns and villages that | | | | visitors. If you want to see prehistoric burial grounds |
| are based on an agricultural industry. Historically it is | | | | which will be found at The Bridestones, near |
| famous for manufacturing of Cheshire cheese, bulk | | | | Congleton (Neolithic) and Robin Hood's Tump, is near |
| chemicals, salt, and the weaving of silk. | | | | Alpraham (Bronze Age). Some remains of Iron Age hill |
| During the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, Cheshire's name | | | | forts will be found on sandstone ridges at various |
| was derived from a prior name for Chester and | | | | locations in Cheshire eg Woodhouse Hillfort at |
| firstly it was as Legeceasterscir. The meaning of this | | | | Frodsham and Maiden Castle on Bickerton Hill, Helsby |
| name was the shire of the city of legions. First | | | | Hillfort. |
| registered in 980CE, but it is presumed that the | | | | Perhaps the first historical building works in Cheshire is |
| county's creator Edward the Elder roundabout 920CE. | | | | certainly done by Romans on fortress and walls of |
| According to Domesday Book, Chester used to have | | | | Chester. They still exist above ground and were |
| the name Cestrescir, (Chestershire). It was also | | | | constructed from purple-grey sandstone. |
| derived from the name for Chester that was in use | | | | The exclusive local red sandstones were used for |
| at that time. A series of changes that occurred and | | | | many ecclesiastical and important buildings all across |
| along came the name. | | | | the county, eg, the medieval Chester Cathedral, |
| In the Local Government Act 1972, which was | | | | Beeston Castle and many parish churches. This |
| effected on 1 April 1974, some areas in the | | | | sandstone was used to construct Helsby Station, |
| northwest later became a part of the metropolitan | | | | Helsby (1849) On some occasions industrial and |
| counties of Merseyside and Greater Manchester. | | | | residential buildings were also made of this stone. |
| Stockport (traditionally a county borough), Dukinfield, | | | | |