Building record 12000/5 - Chester City Walls - Pemberton's Parlour (Goblin Tower)

Pemberton's Parlour is a gazebo that was erected on the site of a former medieval drum tower, one that was rebuilt in 1894. It was originally called the Goblin Tower, and during the reign of Henry VIII it was referred to as Dille's Tower. It was later called Pemberton's Parlour after John Pemberton, mayor of Chester, who owned a ropewalk beneath the wall and supervised his workers from this tower. It was originally a circular or drum tower straddling the wall with a chamber above the wall-walk and a fighting platform situated at the top, with a passage through it for pedestrians. Formerly twice its present height, part was taken down in 1708 because it was considered to have been in a ruinous condition; this work was carried out with some repairs, and it seems probable that the core of the medieval tower was encased at this time (3). The remainder of the tower was rebuilt as a semi-circular structure, while the front was refaced and ornamented with stone panels bearing coats of arms (the Royal arms west and the Chester city arms). It was entirely rebuilt in 1894, and it appears that this rebuild took place largely above the level of the wall-walk (1, 2).

<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.

<6> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 470121 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

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

<8> 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, p221 (Book). SCH6522.