Monument record 10878 - Castle - Mid Nineteenth Century

The nineteenth century saw considerable changes in the inner bailey. In 1817 a fire broke out in the west wind of the Gaol, and local residents became concerned by the general risks of explosion at the castle. At the time there was a proposal to demolish the officers quarters and judges lodgings, which was rejected, but did occur in 1830 when the site began to be used for a gun shed. Following this demolition, Harrison’s armoury, now Colvin House) was converted for use and a new armoury, now Napier House, was built. The ground floor of Napier House was used as an armoury and the two upper floors as additional soldiers accommodation. In 1877, all local prisons were taken over by the government, and the gaol remained in use until 1884 when the civilian prisoners were moved to Knutsford, military prisoners to Kendall. The site of the felons prison was converted into a drill ground with an entrance for guns at the west end, and some of the former cells were used for offices and stores (4).

<1> Colvin H.M. (ed), 1963-1982, The History of the King's Works, 1/607-612 (Book). SCH3161.

<2> Cox, E W, 1895, Chester Castle, Cox E W 1895 5/239-276 (Article in Journal). SCH5599.

<3> Simpson F, 1925, Chester Castle, A.D. 907-1925, Simpson F 1925 26/71-132 (Article in Journal). SCH5695.

<4> English Heritage, 2001, Chester Castle Conservation Plan (Unpublished Report). SCH6281.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1872-1875, Metric Ten Foot Scale Town Plan of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH6780.

<6> Wilson D & Hurst J, 1957, Medieval Britain in 1956 (Article in Journal). SCH5609.