St Werburgh's Abbey

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This Benedictine abbey was founded on the site of Chester Cathedral in 1092 by Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester, and dedicated to Saint Werburgh, whose remains were housed there. The foundations are Ango-Saxon in origin and date date back to 907.

The abbey was gradually extended until 1250, when the cathedral achieved most of the form seen today.It remained an abbey until the Dissolution of the Monasteries saw it become a cathedral. It was entirely thanks to the personal admiration of King Henry VIII that it was left unmolested. Further building took place during the dissolution and the 19th century saw a programme of restoration and sometimes fanciful elaboration by Thomas Harrison from 1818-20, Richard Charles Hussey in 1843-4, George Gilbert Scott from 1868-76 and Arthur Blomfield from 1882-87.

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