The Chester Chronicles
Chester is claimed, according to scientific criteria, to have the largest number of beautiful buildings in the world. Yes, even more than Venice which only achieves second place! Raph and I are lucky to live in one of the most beautiful and richly historic cities in the UK and it would, in truth be remiss not to make full use of a place which, from a visual art point of view is said to contain more Golden Ratio architecture than any other. Chester is packed with aesthetically delightful buildings and features which, over centuries, have come together in perfect harmony. For us, as filmmakers this alone is a gift but as if that were not enough Chester is also a treasure trove of culture and cultures; centuries-long occupation has ensured ongoing molding and refining of the city’s look as successive generations hone it to their taste.
The Chronicles of Chester is our take on a few selected instances from the city’s long life. Created in episodes, it picks out a gem or two from the wealth of stories which have collected over the years. For the sake of a bit of logic we step chronologically from the Roman occupation to the Vikings to the Middle Ages and beyond teasing out anecdotes, myths and tales as we go. The unique geography of Chester means that settlers have cherished its extraordinary qualities; access to the open sea, raised up on a sandstone table, fresh water and much, much more.
Collecting clips for The Chester Chronicles has been an exciting process. We have delighted in the depth of knowledge shared with us by numerous local individuals. The wonderful Revd Chesters (sic!) of St John the Baptist Church has furnished us with a deep understanding of this important church and its place in the evolvement of religious beliefs over the centuries; reenactment groups have added splendid and dynamic colour to periods of history; Kate of the Chester Grosvenor museum has ensured our better understanding of the Romans in Deva Victris. Filming interviews with these and many others has been a sheer delight as have been some fabulous early mornings in the city capturing moments of sheer golden hour beauty.
The first episode of The Chester Chronicles will appear in the next few weeks here on our website and elsewhere.
