Chester in Cheshire West and Chester, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
The Rows
The heart of the city
Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 12, 2024
1. The Rows Marker
The Rows could be described as the oldest shopping arcade in Britain. They were built between about 1200 and 1350, when Chester was a booming market town and port. This has been bustling heart of the city ever since, where people have come to make a living, shop and socialise.
Bakers Row
The Row on your right is Bakers' Row, where many bakers lived and worked in the past. This was a prime spot for craftsmen and businesses because it was in the densely populated centre of the city, so there were always plenty of customers passing by.
Most people relied on bread as an essential part of their diet, but unscrupulous bakers sometimes tried to cheat their customers by selling badly baked or underweight loaves. A simple but effective solution to this problem was developed Bakers had to stamp their bread with an individual mark meaning that their loaves could easily be identified. Any baker who was caught cheating his customers was fined by the authorities.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1200.
Location. 53° 11.441′ N, 2° 53.389′ W. Marker is in Chester, England, in Cheshire West and Chester. It is on Eastgate Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 42 Eastgate St, Chester, England CH1 1LG, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North West England. Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: East Gate (within shouting distance
this page online
Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 12, 2024
2. One of the walkways in "The Rows"
Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2024, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 129 times since then and 20 times this year. Last updated on March 1, 2026, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 3, 2024, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
