With its strategic location on the fertile plain between the Pennines and the Welsh border, Cheshire became one of Anglo-Saxon England's most important shires after its creation in the 10th century. This book, which includes 60 line drawings and aerial photographs, tells the exciting story of the birth of the shire, from the Iron tribe of the Cornovii to the powerful Earldom of Chester in the 12th century. N.J. Higham shows how the origins of Cheshire can be traced back to the early territorial organization of the region. He explores the evolution of tribes and territories from late prehistoric and Roman times through the early Middle Ages. Core themes are the remarkably early development of the parish system and minister churches, the shiring of Cheshire in the 10th century, and the evolution of the county under the Normans after 1066. Based very largely on new research, this is an attempt to tackle the historical problems surrounding the early history of Cheshire. It should provide a contribution to our understanding of the continuity between British tribal society and Anglo-Saxon England.