When I checked into my Chester Hotel I asked the clerk if I’m checking into a haunted place. He laughed and said unfortunately not. I went up to my room a little disappointed. But, at least the haunted tour I went on today, revealed some interesting things to me, like you never know if the place you are staying will be haunted or not. So, I perked up a little as I entered my hotel room.
In Chester, according to new research, paranormal experts have given it the spine chilling title of ‘England’s most haunted city’. On my tour today, I learned the ancient walled city of Chester was founded by the Romans over 2,000 years ago as their main legionary fortresses to control the province of Britannia. When the Romans left, the fortress was fought over by successive waves of Vikings, Welshmen and those sorrowful Danes. While on the tour I could even see that Chester is a compact and picturesque place over full with Roman remains and all kinds of black and white medieval homes and ancients Inns.
So, over the centuries, Chester has witnessed the very highs and lows of human existence, from jubilations to slaughter, war, plagues and famine. For me it was no surprise that Chester can boast it has ghosts, hauntings and apparitions and lots of them. Roman ghosts especially roam Chester. There’s one spectre that remains so clear that experts have even identified him by his armour, a Decurion, an officer in charge of ten men, of the Second Legion Adiutrix stationed at Chester around 70 AD. Not far from that, Chester’s half excavated Roman amphitheatre are the ruins of St. John’s church and priory. Written inside a coffin in the wall are ‘Dust to Dust’. A ghostly nun haunts the abandoned churchyard. My guide said she was originally buried in the 13th century oak casket so she could be closer to heaven.
I couldn’t sleep that night, in my hotel room, I kept hearing strange noises and seeing strange things move around in the dark.
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