Spur Wall And Water Tower

CHESTER CITY (IM)

SJ4066NW CITY WALLS 595-1/1/101 Spur wall and Water Tower 28/07/55 (Formerly Listed as: City Walls & Towers incl. foundations of SE angle Roman Fortress wall & tower)

GV I

Spur wall from Bonewaldesthorne Tower (qv) to the Water Tower, and the Water Tower. 1322-6. By John Helpstone. Approx 37m long and 3.3m wide. Coursed red sandstone rubble. EXTERIOR: a segmental archway at ground level through the wall. A stone landing at Boneswaldesthorne Tower, a stair totalling 44 stone steps with an intermediate half-landing 6m long leads to the main link to the Water Tower. The parapets to the spur wall have probably the only surviving example of medieval crenellation on the walls; on the half landing crenels were converted to embrasures, probably for cannon during the Civil War. A panel on the north parapet is inscribed INVENIT AUT EXCIT. The Water Tower was built at Chester's expense to command the medieval port, then immediately adjoining, for 100 pounds. Circular with a slightly battered solid lower stage and 2 stages containing chambers; the total height to the crown of the parapet is approx 15m or 50 feet. Loops to the lower chamber; square turret facing City Wall with garderobe at north corner; loops to upper storey; band at rampart level; eroded crenellation. INTERIOR: part-glazed Gothick double doors to 5 stone steps down to octagonal chamber with arched alcoves to entrance and to loops;; octagonal keel-moulded rib-vault springing directly from corners. Spiral stair of 23 stone steps lit by 2 loops to octagonal upper chamber, vaulted as lower chamber and with blocked loops; opening of uncertain date, to north-east. (Bartholomew City Guides: Harris B: Chester: Edinburgh: 1979-: 94-95; The Buildings of England: Pevsner N & Hubbard E: Cheshire: 1971-: 155; Cheshire Sites and Monuments Record: Collens J: Chester City: 3007/2/1 & 2).

Listing NGR: SJ3999766544