These rows, to which you ascend by stairs up narrow passages, were originally built for the security of the wares of the principal merchants against the Welsh.

Should the mountaineers break into the town, as they frequently did, they might rifle some of the common shops, where their booty would be slight, but those which contained the more costly articles would be beyond their reach; for at the first alarm the doors of the passages, up which the stairs led, would be closed, and all access to the upper streets cut off, from the open arches of which missiles of all kinds, kept ready for such occasions, could be discharged upon the intruders, who would be soon glad to beat a retreat.

These rows and the walls are certainly the most remarkable memorials of old times which Chester has to boast of.
Upon the walls it is possible to make the whole compass of the city, there being a good but narrow walk upon them.

The northern wall abuts upon a frightful ravine, at the bottom of which is a canal.

From the western one there is a noble view of the Welsh hills.
As I stood gazing upon the hills from the wall a ragged man came up and asked for charity.
"Can you tell me the name of that tall hill ?" said I, pointing in the direction of the south-west.