The Eastgate and clock

The Eastgate and Clock

An archway replacing a former gatehouse, constructed in red sandstone between 1768 and 1769. The architect was probably Hayden or Heyden, Surveyor of Buildings for Lord Grosvenor, who funded the work at his own expense. The clock tower surmounting the arch was added in 1899, designed by John Douglas and funded by Colonel Edward Evans-Lloyd and public subscription.

The archway itself features a basket carriage arch with rusticated jambs and voussoirs as its main opening. To either side are small round pedestrian arches of smooth stone; to the north, a segmental half-arch which has been used as a shop since 1884. The inner keystone bears the Arms of the County Palatine—a sword of justice and three sheaves—while the outer keystone displays the arms of Richard Lord Grosvenor with the motto NOBILITATE VIRTUS NON STEMMA CHARACTER. A frieze band on the inner face reads THIS GATE BEGUN MDCCLXVIII JOHN KELSAL ESQ. MAYOR: FINISHED MDCCLXIX CHA. BOSWELL ESQ. MAYOR, and a second frieze band on the outer face reads ERECTED AT THE EXPENSE OF RICHARD LORD GROSVENOR A.D. MDLXIX. A modillion cornice appears on each face, and ornate wrought-iron railings from 1899 line the wall walk.

The 1899 clock tower is constructed of ornate wrought-iron in the form of a pavilion with a round arch facing each direction. These arches are supported on open-work wrought-iron pylons and "buttresses". The tower carries a four-dial clock made by JB Joyce of Whitchurch. The plinth beneath the clock bears multiple inscriptions: on the east, THIS CLOCK TOWER WAS ERECTED IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 60TH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF VICTORIA, QUEEN AND EMPRESS; on the west, ANTIQUI COLANT ANTIQUUM DIERUM: B.C. ROBERTS, MAYOR 1897; J.C. HOLMES, MAYOR 1898; on the south, THIS CLOCK WAS ERECTED BY EDWARD EVANS-LLOYD CITIZEN AND FREEMAN 1897; and on the north, ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION & COMPLETED A.D. 1899 H. STOLTEFORTH MAYOR. Below each clock face are the figures 18:97 in gilt, and above each face the letters V.R. also in gilt. The tower is topped by a copper cupola surmounted by a weathervane bearing lions rampant on a gules ground, with filigree corner panels below.

According to Chester City Assembly records, the Corporation had originally engaged Joseph Turner of Hawarden (later a Chester resident and architect of the Watergate and Bridgegate) to prepare plans and estimates for rebuilding the Eastgate. However, in February 1768, the Assembly instead instructed Mr. Hayden, surveyor to Lord Grosvenor's building works, to prepare a plan for the new arch. The Assembly voted to proceed with Hayden's design, and Lord Grosvenor agreed to fund the entire project. The Corporation subsequently offered Turner fifteen guineas as compensation for his work. In 1772, five guineas were paid to Heyden as acknowledgment of his supervisory role in completing the construction.