Building record 12000/18 - Chester City Walls - Wall between Kaleyard Gate and Eastgate

This section of the eastern part of the city walls extends from the Kaleyard Gate (CHER 12000/18) to the Eastgate (CHER 12000/20). It is one of the few sections of the city wall that has visible Roman remains. The majority of the stonework dates from the late eleventh or early twelfth century, but was altered and converted into a raised promenade between 1702 and 1708. It also has been altered and repaired throughout the medieval and later periods. The Roman masonry is found up to four courses high and 15m long forms the projecting base to the wall north of Kaleyard Gate. Further south, a portion of Roman masonry not closely accessible when inspected rises to a maximum of six courses standing a little proud of the medieval wall face. The internal face of the wall immediately south of Kaleyard Gate has a 5 metre run of continuous corbelling, formerly at the base of the inner timber palisade to the rampart, immediately below the wall-walk level. A ramp parallel with the wall leads up from Abbey Street, stone-paved and with red sandstone parapet with blocked opening of former doorway to Cathedral Close. Along the Close the wall has panels of iron rails between buttress-shaped piers. Steps down leading to Frodsham St. at the site of a drum tower of which the foundations are exposed, probably dating to between 1285 and 1295. Modern stone steps south of the Cathedral bell-tower lead down to St Werburgh St. This section of the wall is approximately 370m long and between 2 and 3m wide (8).

<1> Simpson, F., 1910, The Walls of Chester, /30 (Book). SCH3255.

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

<4> Harris, B.E., 1979, Bartholomew City Guides - Chester, /93 (Book). SCH394.

<5> Morris, Rupert H (Rev.), 1894, Chester in the Plantagenet & Tudor Reigns, /245 (Book). SCH946.

<7> Donald Insall Associates, Chester City Walls Conservation Management Plan, R3251 (Client Report). SCH6603.

<8> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 470123 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

<9> Brock, EP Loftus, 1888, The Age of the Walls of Chester, with References to Recent Discussions (Article in Journal). SCH5571.

<10> Brock, EP Loftus, 1888, Considerations relative to the ground-plan and walls of Chester (Article in Journal). SCH6091.

<11> Chester Archaeology, 1966, Site notes for excavations at Frodsham Street Car Park, Chester (Unpublished Report). SCH6631.

<12> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2011, Proposed New Market Hall at Frodsham Street Car Park, Chester: Archaeological Desk Based Assessment, R3087 (Client Report). SCH5465.

<13> Chester Archaeology, 1996, Chester 12 St John Street 1996 Excavation, R2165 (Client Report). SCH4050.

<14> Grosvenor Museum, 1988, Grosvenor Museum Excavation section: Current Activities & Upcoming Sites (Unpublished Report). SCH6282.

<15> Cheshire West and Chester Historic Environment Service, 2011, Chester City Walls: North of East Gate 2010, R3017 (Client Report). SCH6884.

<16> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2013, Investigations into the condition of the City Walls, North of the East Gate, Chester, R3436 (Client Report). SCH7043.