Building record 12000/21/1 - Chester City Walls: St John's Steps

<1> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 470123 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

An L-shaped ashlar stair of 14 and 20 steps towards St John Street.

<2> Donald Insall Associates, Chester City Walls Conservation Management Plan, p.72 (Client Report). SCH6603.

Duplicates list entry (see 1).

<3> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2011, St John's Steps Mini Study (Client Report). SCH8830.

The steps are contemporary with the construction of the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in 1811. A flight of steps already existed from the Walls to the land purchased by the Methodist Committee. These steps were located at the northern part of the property, nearer the Eastgate and the new chapel was to be erected on the southern side of the site. The steps referred to appear to have descended into outbuildings adjoining the wall. In 1811 the chapel committee petitioned the City for permission to open up a new access from the Walls down to the chapel and into the street via the new 9ft wide passageway between No. 6 and the chapel. The previous right of passage further north was to be closed off, when permission was granted. However, a flight of steps adjoining the Boys and Girls School is recorded by the Ordnance Survey plan of 1872 (see 4).

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1872-1875, Metric Ten Foot Scale Town Plan of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH6780.