Cestrian English

The Cestrian English project is an exciting new research initiative focusing on language in and around Chester as well as how the local area is represented in texts through time. The project is led by Jo Close, Matt Davies and Helen West from the university’s English Language subject team.

The Cestrian English project comprises two parts: Talking Chester, focusing on accent, dialect and identity in Chester, and Changing Chester, which focuses on written representations of Chester over time.

The project involves capturing spoken and written considerations of Cestrian identity, from the input of former and current Chester residents and in the wealth of writings about Chester from locals and visitors over hundreds of years.