Building record 12000/39 - Chester City Walls - Wall between County Hall and Grosvenor Road

This section of the southern and western parts of the city walls extends from the County Hall (CHER 10879/1) to Grosvenor Road. The medieval stonework dates to the late eleventh to early twelfth century, and it can be assumed that it was subject to repair at various times throughout the medieval and post medieval period. It was converted into a raised promenade between 1702 and 1708. It was also realigned in the early nineteenth century adjoining the former gaol, now the site of the County Hall. This section of the walls is approximately 500m long, and is the south-west angle of the wall circuit. The wall-walk was realigned south for a further 50m to accommodate the former county gaol, where the walk is supported on 11 arches diminishing in height as it slopes down to ground level (CHER 12000/36). At the south-west angle the wall stands on outcropping sandstone, and has buttresses. Half-way between the angle and Grosvenor Road is a round-arched opening dating to 1885, with double wrought-iron gates (CHER 12000/41/4). At ground level on the inner side of the wall is close to the level of the Row walk. On its outer face the wall, where not banked against, is up to 19 courses below the parapet (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> Rambol UK, 2012, Castle Drive Gate, Chester City Walls: Repair of Wrought-Iron Railings and Gates (Draft) & Proposed Works (Unpublished Report). SCH6765.