Kill-Grief is set in Chester and Wirral in the 1750s. Below are a few of the locations mentioned in the book. For more about Chester and its history, visit the wonderful, award-winning Chester Virtual Stroll.

Most of the story takes place in the Blue Coat School, (below, pictured early 19th century) which was the temporary home of Chester Infirmary when it opened in 1755. The Infirmary was in the North Wing, on the right of the picture. The South Wing housed the chapel of Little St John and the middle part was a school for boys. The building was originally L-shaped, but the North Wing was added in 1733 and was vacant when the Infirmary Governors were looking for a building.

The Infirmary stayed at the School until 1761 when it moved to its own building in St Martin's Fields. The School is now part of the University of Chester, and the Infirmary's ward is now the History Library.

A new facade was put on the school's central section in the 1850s and features a statue of Blue Coat pupil John Coppack.

Pemberton's Parlour, pictured left, is referred to in Kill-Grief by one of its earlier names - the Goblin Tower. This tower was originally circular, spanning the wall with a walkway through the middle. After damage and neglect, however, it was partly demolished in the early 18th century, the remaining part being restored as a semi-circular alcove. The builder's name was John Tilston - I have no idea if he was related to the Infirmary's Dr Tylston!

The Kaleyards Gate (right) is called the Kelyards Gate in Kill-Grief, and is used by the characters on their way to the gin shop in Cow Lane (now Frodsham Street). This gate was made in the 13th century so that the monks of St Werburgh's abbey could get to their vegetable gardens just outside the walls. Until relatively recently, it was locked every night.

Just the other side of the gate are the stones pictured left - as sat on by Kill-Grief's characters!

The Northgate Gaol (right) is no longer standing - it was knocked down in 1808 and replaced with the current neo-Classical arch. The notorious dungeons included Little Ease - a cell seventeen inches wide, with moveable boards that could lessen its height to a yard - and the Dead Men's Room, where those condemned to death passed their final hours. Although the building has gone, these horrific dungeons still lie deep below the street.

Chester's famous Rows are covered walkways running along the front of the buildings, creating a unique two-tier system of shops. Today's Rows look pretty old, but a lot of them are Victorian and were not around during the time Kill-Grief is set. The principle was the same though, and various incarnations of the Rows have been in existence since the 14th century. In the late 1700s, physician John Haygarth commented that Chester was a particularly healthy city, the Rows and Walls allowing people to stay out of the mud. This picture, from an engraving by John Romney, shows God’s Providence House in Watergate Street in the 19th Century.

Mary's home village of Thurstaston (right) is near Wirral's south coast, overlooking the Dee Estuary. The white house in the picture is Sally's Cottage or Shore Cottage, which in the 18th century was home to the customs officer. Thank you to the Thurstaston and Irby parish website for this lovely photo - the site has a whole gallery of the area here.