Rowvember - A Month-long Celebration of The Rows

Rowvember runs from 1 to 30 November across The Rows in Chester, a month-long celebration of the city's double-tiered galleries. The Rows are one of Chester's most distinctive features: those two levels of walkways that once ran all the way to the river and now line the historic streets with shops and arcades. Rowvember is put on by Heritage Chester, a community interest company that works to promote, preserve and inspire appreciation of the city's heritage, and also stages the Chester Heritage Festival and Summer Celebration.

The programme is built for two crowds at once: the locals who walk the Rows every day and the visitors seeing them for the first time. It mixes archaeological tales, building spotlights, guided tours, treasure hunts, workshops and open houses, with many of the sessions marked as accessible and family-friendly. Conservation Officer James Dixon leads 'Chester Rows at Night' on 5 November, which is already sold out, and guide Matthew Bridson is also involved throughout the month.

Much of the month looks at the history that still sits within the Rows. There's the story of Susanna Mainwaring's masquerades on Watergate Street back in the 1820s, the influence of Victorian architect John Douglas, and the city's Civil War siege. It also touches on the pioneering outdoor fire-detection system that now protects the Rows, a modern layer on top of all that older history.

With the whole month dedicated to the Rows, there's plenty to pick from across the four weeks. The full programme is available at heritagechester.co.uk/rowvember, where you can find the dates and details for the tours, treasure hunts and workshops.