Building record 12000/4 - Chester City Walls - Wall from Bonewaldesthorne's Tower to Pemberton's Parlour

This section of the city walls is between Bonewaldesthorne’s Tower (CHER 12000/3) and Pemberton’s Parlour (CHER 12000/5). It originally dates to the late eleventh or early twelfth centuries, when the defences of the former Roman / Saxon settlement were extended westward, but was altered to form a raised promenade between 1701 and 1708, a walk that is about 2m wide (5). It is probably safe to assume that this section of the walls, like many others, were subject to regular repair and alteration throughout the medieval and post medieval period. The north, outer face of the wall has a plinth thrice recessed with weathered caps. The south face of this section of this section is sheer. East of the bridge (CHER 12000/4/2), the earth bank reduces the exposed height of the wall to 12 courses. The present stair (CHER 12000/4/1) dates to the eighteenth or nineteenth centuries, and is comprised of three flights down to the canal basin.

<1> Renn, DF, 1958, The Water Tower at Chester, Renn D F 1958 45/56-60 (Article in Journal). SCH5753.

<2> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, /155 (Book). SCH3078.

<3> Morris, Rupert H (Rev.), 1894, Chester in the Plantagenet & Tudor Reigns, /245 (Book). SCH946.

<5> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 470120 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

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

<7> Lewis C.P & Thacker A.T. (eds), 2005, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume Vii, The City of Chester - The City of Chester, Culture, Buildings, Institutions (Book). SCH6522.