Cheshire Day in England Date in the current year: March 30, 2024

Cheshire is a historic and ceremonial county in northwest England. It is bordered by Derbyshire, Great Manchester, Merseyside, Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Wales. The county town of Cheshire is the cathedral city of Chester. The name Cheshire was derived from an early name for Chester and means “the shire of the city of legions”.

Cheshire is believed to have been founded by the Anglo-Saxon king Edward the Elder circa 920; its first recorded mention can be found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. During the Early and much of the High Middle Ages, the Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful earldoms in England. So powerful, in fact, that it was governed by its own Magna Carta.

Magna Carta, also known as the Runnymede Charter of Liberties, was a royal charter of rights agreed to by King John of England to make peace with a group of rebel barons. The charter did not apply to Chester, which was ruled as a separate feudal domain at the time, which resulted in Earl Ranulf de Blondeville issuing his own Magna Carta of Chester. It governed the relationship between the Earl of Chester and his barons.

By the time King Edward I of England reconfirmed Magna Carta in 1300, the Earldom of Chester had already been under royal control for several decades, which meant that the Runnymede Charter of Liberties applied to it. However, the Magna Carta of Chester was reconfirmed separately on March 30, 1300. The anniversary of its re-confirmation is now celebrated as Cheshire Day.

Cheshire is particularly famous for its production of cheese, salt and silk. The mining of salt in Cheshire dates back to Roman times. The salt beds beneath the town of Northwich were accidentally rediscovered in the late 17th century, and the county’s salt manufacture and allied industries have been thriving ever since. Cheshire cheese is one of the oldest and most famous cheeses in England; its first mention dates back to the late 16th century. The county even used to host the International Cheese Awards.

Cheshire Day hasn’t been observed for as long as some other county days in England. It was celebrated for the first time on March 30, 2021. Cheshire Day is the celebration of all things Cheshire that aims to raise the profile of the county, promote its landmarks, attractions, businesses and organizations, and show the world that Cheshire is a great place to work, study and visit.

You can celebrate Cheshire Day even without visiting the county (although we would highly recommend taking a trip to Cheshire if you have an opportunity): learn more about its history, culture and landmarks, read about famous people born in Cheshire (they include, for example, Lewis Carroll, Tim Curry, Daniel Craig, Harry Styles, and Tyson Fury), enjoy some Cheshire cheese, and post about the holiday on social media with the hashtag #CheshireDay.