Mud and timber walls were one of the first constructions built to defend the 20th Legion. Thirty years later, the Romans started rebuilding them out of sandstone, however it took almost 100 years to complete.

The present day walls measure almost 2 miles in length and are a major tourist attraction in Chester. Not all the visible wall is of Roman origin, however, as it has been added to over the years.

Numerous sections of the original walls are still standing today. These can be clearly seen as they were built with darker, stronger sandstone. Some areas even extend to a height of over 12 metres!

After the Norman conquest, around half of the wall was demolished and rebuilt to encompass more land. The bridges and towers have also been added throughout the generations.