Propylaea

SJ 4065 NW CHESTER CASTLE CASTLE SQUARE

4/602 Propylaea (formerly listed as Grand 1.6.67 Entrance, or Propylaea with retaining walls and railings of forecourt)

GV I

Propylaea. 1811-1813. By Thomas Harrison of Chester. Ashlar Manley sandstone with lead roof. Central gateway with colonnades to either side connecting with pavilions. West front: Central gateway of tetrastyle amphiprostyle form with 2 rows of Greek Doric columns which are monolithic and fluted to their upper bodies but merely faceted below. Standing on abaci they have wider intercolum- nation to the centre. Doric entablature above with metopes guttae and mutules continuing around gateway. Panelled attic storey above with raised tablet to centre. To rear dividing wall are a central gateway of full height with lower pedestrian gateways to either side and sunken panels with moulded surrounds over these. To either side are blank walls with mouldings to tops connecting the gateway to the side pavilions which each have two fluted Greek Doric columns to the centre and antae to the corners. Doric entablature above continuing around each pavilion. Pediment with blank tympanum over. Each has a wider opening between the central columns. East front: Central distyle gateway with antae to sides all being monolithic and the central columns fluted to their upper bodies and faceted below. Panelled attic and raised tablet as on west front. Dividing wall has gateways and panels as on west front. One-bay colonnades to either side supported by antae. Portico wings to either side each of tetrastyle form with second phalanx of columns distyle in antis behind, all monolithic. Wider intercolumnation to centre. Entablature over supporting pediment with blank tympanum. The Gateway colonnades and wings all have stone coved ceilings. There are rectangular pedestals to apex and lower angles of pediments. J Mordaunt Crook says of the building in his book The Greek Revival that it combines "direct antique inspiration - the Temple of Philip at Delos and the so-called Temple of Augustus at Athens - with the primal simplicity of the Sublime and the variety of light and shade associated with the Picturesque".

Sources: 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.

Nikolaus Pevsner and - The Buildings of England : Cheshire. Edward Hubbard J Mordaunt Crook - "The Architecture of Thomas Harrison" Country Life, April 22, 1971.

Moira A R Ockrim - "Thomas Harrison and the Rebuilding of Chester Castle: A History and Reassessment". Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Vol 66, 1983.

Listing NGR: SJ4040365841