Chester and its surrounding area are birthplace to some truly fascinating heroes and villains.The stories in this book bring to life eight centuries of their loves and hates, hopes, fears, triumphs, relationships and failings.Based on meticulous research in Cheshire's rich archives, they uncover individuals as varied as a mediaeval gang member, a powerful Elizabethan woman addicted to marriage, one of the early organisers of the Grand National, and an innocent little girl who died after drinking from the wrong bottle. Readers interested in Chester and its environs will certainly enjoy these stories, but so will anyone who delights in uncovering the personalities and exploits of our long-forgotten ancestors.Spanning centuries, counties, class and generations, author Peter Cotgreave allows this heroic, comedic, devious, irresistible cast of characters to live again in the pages of this unique book, and in so doing reveals much about the area's unique and ancient history.