Name: Roman Amphitheatre by Cheshire Archives & Local Studies
Duration: 2 min 21 s
Description: A schoolgirl, when Dee House was the Ursuline Convent School, is an eyewitness when the first trace of an amphitheatre is discovered in 1929 – but to discover more the sweet shop must be demolished.

A schoolgirl, when Dee House was the Ursuline Convent School, is an eyewitness when the first trace of an amphitheatre is discovered in 1929 – but to discover more the sweet shop must be demolished.

Roman Amphitheatre

A schoolgirl in the 1920s, whose route to school took her along Brook Street and Frodsham Street, with vivid memories of the sights and smells of shops at Christmas – but look out for the cows! She also remembers cows being driven from the cattle market where the bus station is now along Brook Street and Hoole Bridge to the railway sidings on Lightfoot Street.

Setting the scene – Brook Street

‘Two things couldn’t pass at the same time’ – much like today – chemists, shoe shops and bookshops – how much is that doggy in the window?

Frodsham Street

Hear all about ‘Porky Pie Duttons’ where Marks and Spencers is now – with a sweet factory in the back!

Duttons, Foregate Street

Chester is about to open a new market replacing the new market mentioned here. But it is the old market that is brought to life – the china seller who smashes the items he doesn’t sell to the crowd entertain this young lad!

Old Chester Market

Bollands Window Displays & Wedding Cakes

Can you imagine taking a seat when you enter a shop and items being brought to you – or even brought to you sitting in your car outside? Welcome to the world of Minshull and Meeson.

Minshull & Meeson

Curious figures from Venice promoted the stationer and bookseller Phillipson and Golder.

Phillipson & Golder

Mr Stephen Brown, a member of the family who founded the famous Chester department store, describes the shops expansion in the early 20th century.

Expansion of Browns in the early 20th century

Mr Stephen Brown describes the attitudes of customers to the expansion of Browns.

Reactions of existing customers to the expansion of Browns

What would Browns customers or Mr Minshull and Mr Meeson have thought when F W Woolworth moved in across the street where Next is now? There is no ‘shopwalker’ and browsing is encouraged – and plastic goods arrive. And Woolworths expanded throughout the twentieth century filling the space between Eastgate Street and St Werbergh’s Street.

Woolworths

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Roman Amphitheatre

Cheshire Archives & Local Studies

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