Building record 12000/27 - Chester City Walls - Barnaby's Tower

<1> Morris, Rupert H (Rev.), 1894, Chester in the Plantagenet & Tudor Reigns (Book). SCH946.

<2> Ward, S. W., 1987, Excavations at Chester, the Civil War Siege Works, 1642-6 (Excavation & survey reports), p.5 & 30-32 (Monograph). SCH1189.

Barnaby’s Tower is a thirteenth century angle tower at the south-east corner of the city wall’s circuit. It is shown on Braun's map of 1581 and Speed's map of 1610 (see 1), and is comprised of a three-sided polygonal projection from the front face of the city walls. The platform at the top lies at the same level as the wall-walk. The structure is solid and there is no evidence that it ever contained a chamber below the walk-level; it was clearly solely a defensive feature. There is evidence that it suffered from an artillery bombardment, probably during the Civil War.

<3> English Heritage, Various, Scheduled Monument Consent Letter (Written Communication). SCH2963.

<4> Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Revised List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, City of Chester Intra Mural 1998/ 141 (Unpublished Report). SCH4570.

<5> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 470162 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Tower at south-east corner of City Walls. Probably C13, damaged 1644-6 during the Civil War, converted to feature of the raised promenade of the wall walk 1702-8 and repaired during various periods. Coursed red sandstone rubble. The bastion forms a 3-sided projection from the wall, its platform level with the wall-walk. There is no evidence of any chamber beneath that level. There is mock-crenellation; the tower level and parapet were altered at the expense of Councillor Charles Brown 1879-80. The tower stands on an outcrop of red sandstone.

<6> Donald Insall Associates, Chester City Walls Conservation Management Plan, R3251 (Client Report). SCH6603.