Bonewaldesthorne Tower

Bonewaldesthorne Tower

This wall tower stands at the north-west corner of Chester's City Walls. It is documented from 1249–61 but was rebuilt or substantially altered in 1322–6, after which it served as the gatehouse to the Water Tower.

The tower is constructed of red sandstone coursed rubble, now heavily eroded. It features a tall plinth with three weathered caps to the north and one to the south, a blank storey now filled in, a storey accessed seven stone steps up from the Row walk level, and battlements set upon an eroded string course. The entrance has chamfered jambs and an arch of two stones, with an oak boarded door. A doorway on the opposite side connects to the spur wall leading to the Water Tower.

Inside, the tower contains a fireplace, a stair (now closed) that originally gave access to the battlements, and defensive loops. The masonry of the south-west quadrant suggests the tower was originally built as a drum shape. In 1322, it was squared off to the north along the line of the spur wall to the Water Tower and rebuilt to a square plan with a canted south-west corner above the wall-walk level.