Trade and Industry
There is evidence of trade in Saxon Chester - "Chester Ware" pottery has been found in Dublin and the Chester mint signature is the most common found on 10thC Irish coins. Imports included fish from Ireland, cattle and sheep from Wales and wines from Germany, Aquitaine and Spain.
Trade was regulated by the city guilds and the citizen guild merchant had existed in the 12thC. During the Middle Ages individual craft and trade companies developed to protect the interests of the merchants and craftsmen of the city. The right to trade was dependent on membership of the guild merchant.
Leather played an important part in life in medieval and post medieval Chester. This industry consisted of several trades,such as skinners, glovers,shoemakers and saddlers - by the late 16thC the leather industry accounted for over a fifth of the craftsmen in the city. A similar number were employed in the clothing and textile trades, such as the weavers and fullers.
The port was an important trading centre and the export of local produce, including cloth, leather goods and tanned calf skins contributed to the industrial well being of the city.
The citizen's right to hold a market was confirmed by Henry VII in the Great Charter of 1506. The main market place was in Northgate Street with a corn market and a wool market whilst fish was sold in Watergate Street. The Mayor fixed prices, checked weights and decided trading regulations.
Chester was devastated by the effects of the Civil War but the markets and fairs gradually regained their regional importance so that by the end of the 17thC the city was the major wholesaling and retailing centre for Cheshire and North Wales. They increasingly dealt in luxury goods as well as local produce. At this time there were eleven waterwheels in use, for grinding corn, fulling cloth and raising water. Some new industries also developed including tobacco and snuff manufacture and pipe-making. The linen trade became increasingly important and over 60,000 yards of linen had passed through the port by 1700.
The coming of the railways brought even more visitors to Chester, enhancing its reputation as a retailing centre.
Chester never really developed as a manufacturing town and during the the 20th C it lost most of its old-established industries. Shipbuilding ended in 1935, the nearby docks at Connahs Quay closed in the 1960s and the Dee Basin was almost completely filled in in the late 1950s. Instead, Chester has strengthened its position as a major retailing, administration and tourism centre.