Roman soldier to promote reopening of historic Chester landmarks

The historic buildings will be open free of charge over the Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday August 24 to 26, then each weekend until the end of September.

During this year's Heritage Open Days weekend, the King Charles Tower will also be open on Friday, September 13, when it hosts a Heritage Skills and Craft Fair; students from West Cheshire College will be demonstrating heritage and craft skills including traditional stone masonry and wood carpentry.

In a partnership between Cheshire West and Chester Council and Chester Roman Tours there will be characters from Roman, Medieval and Civil War Chester welcoming visitors to the Towers.

The King Charles Tower, where King Charles I was said to have watched skirmishes at the Battle of Rowton Moor (1645) has been restored as part of the European Portico project, visitors will be able to see the lightweight strengthening that has been designed to protect the tower.

The Water Tower was built between 1322 and 1326 by John de Helpston as a River Dee defence. Access to The Water Tower is through the Bonewaldesthorne's Tower which includes the recently cleaned and serviced Camera Obscura that has provided unique panoramas of the city since its installation in 1840.

Councillor Stuart Parker, executive member for culture and recreation, said: "A lot of vital restoration work has taken place in the King Charles Tower over the past year, I'm delighted that the Tower will be re-opened this weekend alongside the Water Tower to give visitors the chance to gain an even greater experience of our City Walls."

Chester’s Roman Tours were established in 1997, they provide City tours of Chester, educational outreach and participate in historical events across the U.K, for further information visit romantoursuk.com

The towers will be open to the public at weekends from 10am to 4pm. Opening times during Heritage Open Days will be 11am – 4pm (September 13-15).