Monument record 12000/17 - Chester City Walls - Kaleyard Gate

The Kaleyard Gate is named after the medieval vegetable gardens that were established outside the walls by the monks of Chester cathedral. During the reign of Edward I, c.1275, the Abbot of St Werburgh was granted permission to make an opening through the walls and gain easier access to their kitchen gardens, situated outside the walls (1, 2). During the reign of Edward II (1323) problems arose between the abbot and those responsible for the security of the city and the abbot was made to defend the postern with a drawbridge. He also had to destroy the great gate made in his 'own proper wall', which would be on the east side of the garden, bordering Frodsham St., but was allowed to make a postern in its place (3). Under Henry V (1415), the abbot obtained a licence to close the two gates leading to the gardens as they were frequently robbed (4). The Kaleyard gate remains as a simple breach in the wall for pedestrian use and is still under the control of the Dean and Chapter (5). It is a simple rebated stone opening with double-boarded oak door opening outward. It is of special interest as the only medieval gateway in Chester in approximately its original form to remain in use and until the 1990s was closed nightly (9).

<1> Simpson, F., 1910, The Walls of Chester, /15 (Book). SCH3255.

<2> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Ormerod G 1882 1/355-6 (Book). SCH1389.

<3> Burne, R. V. H., 1962, The Monks of Chester. The History of St Werburgh's Abbey, /62 (Book). SCH3213.

<4> Morris, Rupert H (Rev.), 1894, Chester in the Plantagenet & Tudor Reigns, /241-242 (Book). SCH946.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ46NW26.7/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

<6> Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Revised List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, City of Chester Intra Mural 1998/ 134 (Unpublished Report). SCH4570.

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

<8> Chester Archaeology, 1993, Chester City Walls (East) - 1993 Interim Report, R2680 (Client Report). SCH4787.

<9> 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, p219 (Book). SCH6522.

<10> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 470155 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.