This illustrated history portrays one of England's finest counties. It provides a nostalgic look at Norfolk's past and highlights the special character of some of its most important historic sites. The photographs are taken from the Historic England Archive, a unique collection of over 12 million photographs, drawings, plans and documents covering England's archaeology, architecture, social and local history. Pictures date from the earliest days of photography to the present and cover subjects from Bronze Age burials and medieval churches to cinemas and seaside resorts. The county of Cheshire was for centuries a strategically important region of northwest England on the border with Wales, heavily fortified by the Romans around the city of Chester, and part of Anglo-Saxon Merci, before becoming a county palatine with independent powers under the Normans. since the Middle Ages. Although much of the county is still rural, the historic city of Chester with its Roman remains, ancient cathedral and near-complete mediaeval walls draws many to the county, the new town of Warrington is the largest town in the county. The black and white half-timbered buildings that are a feature of Cheshire can be found throughout the county, in Chester and other historic towns as well as its villages.

Industry has also played an important role in the history of the county - notably at Crewe, home of railways and Rolls-Royce for many years, Ellesmere Port on the Manchester Ship Canal and Runcorn on the River Mersey.