IS THE UK CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER READING THIS BLOG?

STOP PRESS! Lola here with a question: is the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, reading this blog? I ask this 'cos he's just posted a pic of his new puppie, a white bichon frise called - you guessed! - LOLA! 

Just look: Lola could be moi as a puppy (see sidebar, below!) 

Watch this space for any snippets of earth-shattering insider gossip information from Downing Street - just between one Lola and - another... 

Now where we, dear readers? Ah yes, continuing our mini virtual tour of the UK where, this week, C is for the city of *C*hester...

Founded as a Roman fort, Chester has just been voted Europe's fifth prettiest by American newspaper USA Today. The paper explained: "In Chester, Roman walls surround a charming collection of Tudor and Victorian buildings and a delightful shopping district filled with half-timbered shops reminiscent of a Grimm tale. There's not a modern structure in sight, making Chester one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Cheshire."

The more unusual landmarks in this Cheshire city lying on the River Dee are its walls, the Rows and the black-and-white architecture.

The walls encircle the bounds of the medieval city and constitute the most complete city walls in Britain, the full circuit measuring nearly 2 miles (3 km). The only break in thecircuit is in the southwest section in front of County Hall. A footpath runs along the top of the walls, crossing roads by bridges over Eastgate, Northgate, St Martin's Gate,Watergate, Bridgegate, Newgate, and the Wolf Gate, and passing a series of structures, namely Phoenix Tower (or King Charles' Tower), Morgan’s Mount, the Goblin Tower with a spur leading to the Water Tower & Thimbleby’s Tower.

Walls linking Bridgegate to Eastgate:

On Eastgate is Eastgate Clock, allegedly the most photographed clock in England after London’s Big Ben (above top & below):

The Rows are unique in Britain. They consist of buildings with shops or dwellings on the lowest two storeys. The shops or dwellings on the ground floor are often lower than the street and are entered by steps, which sometimes lead to a crypt-like vault. Those on the first floor are entered behind a continuous walkway, often with a sloping shelf between the walkway and the railings overlooking the street. 

Bridge Street showing Chester Rows and St Peter’s Church:

Much of the architecture of central Chester looks medieval and some of it is but by far the greatest part of it, including most of the black-and-white buildings, is Victorian, a result of what is called the “black and white revival”.

Black and white architecture at Northgate:

Do check out other *C* posts  @ Jenny Matlock-Alphabe-Thursday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Macro Monday2, Ruby Tuesday & Outdoor Wednesday.

And, finally, thank you to all my dear readers who visited or commented.

Enjoy!

XOXO NORA & LOLA:)

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