Napier House

SJ 4065 NW CHESTER CASTLE INNER BAILEY

4/610 Napier House

GV II

Armoury and barracks, now offices. 1830. Bunter sandstone ashlar with slate roof and lead flashings. Three storeys. Central spinal corridor with barrack roms to either side. North front: 11 bays with slight 2-bay projections to either end. Rusticated moulded string course between ground and first floors. Band between first and second floors with sunken panels and moulded surrounds. Central ground floor door with moulded surround, windows to either side of 3 x 2 sash panes and two sets of C20 double doors imposed at extreme right and 3rd bay from left. First floor windows of 4 x 6 panes and similar windows to second floor though of lesser height. Entablature above surmounted by a plain parapet with raised panel to centre. Left hand side: three bays, string courses, parapet and entablature as before which continue around the building. Double C20 doors to ground floor left with sash windows of 3 x 2 panes to right. First and second floor central windows blocked; lateral windows of 4 x 6 panes as on north front. Right hand side: three ground floor window surrounds all now blocked; the central one raised. Central first floor window also blocked with sash windows of 4 x 6 panes to either side. South front: hard by the raised walkway of the Inner Bailey walls which effectively place the ground floor in an area. Eleven bays with two-bay projections to either end as on north front. Double doors in moulded surround with rectangular overlight at first floor level approached by flying staircase rising from the raised walkway of the walls.

Source: Frank Simpson - "Chester Castle AD 907-1925". Journal of the Architectural, Archaeological and Historic Society, Chester and North Wales. New Series Vol.XXVI, Part II.

Listing NGR: SJ4050065794