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aerial photograph of Chester city walls, Chester England UK. Chester city walls were originally constructed by the Romans between 70 AD and 80 AD. The original wooden ramparts were rebuilt in stone around 100 AD. After the Roman withdrawal, little is known about the walls until the Saxon period under Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians and daughter of Alfred the Great. The walls were improved and maintained throughout the medieval period and right up to the English Civil War when Royalist Chester held out for a year and a half against besieging Parliamentarian forces before finally falling to the New Model Army. The Walls , and much of the city , were badly damaged during the war , but afterwards it was decided to restore them and use them for recreational purposes including a walkway round the town. Today they are one of Cheshire's top tourist attractions.