Boundary Walls To East Side Of River Severn Extending North From The Water Gate

WORCESTER

SO85SW KLEVE WALK 620-1/3/696 (East side) 05/04/71 Boundary walls to E. side of R. Severn extending N. from the Water Gate (Formerly Listed as: COLLEGE GREEN (West side) Monastic precinct wall abutting No 12A)

GV II*

Western boundary wall to former Monastery of St Mary. Possible C14 origins but with later additions and alterations principally in the C18 & C19. Sandstone in red, cream and grey/green; red brick. Overall length approx. 220 metres from Water Gate northwards to northern boundary of the Bishop's Palace (qv). Height range approx. 2 to 5.5 metres. Construction varies along its length, brick, stone, brick over lower courses of stone, and stone with brick facing to lower sections. Majority of coping is stone, chamfered to each wall face, some flush, some oversailing. Stonework is regular coursed, smooth-faced rectangular blocks, typical block size 0.25m. x 0.5m. Most of wall has vertical face but first 50 metre length N. from Water Gate (excluding return wall to Gate archway) is battered back for first 2.0 metres of height; this section, all in stone, also has four buttresses. Pair of blocked window openings and large arched blocked recess further to N align with monastery ruins. At N. end is pedestrian access to the Bishop's Palace (qv); 4 centred arch opening in brick wall; matching arched-head oak door vertically boarded and framed.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Excavations in the Water Gate area have shown that the wall to the southern side of the gate was built prior to the construction of the towpath on this side of the river; pictorial evidence suggests this happened in the early C19. The south wall (and by inference that to the north) is thus probably late C18 at its youngest.

Note: The former Monastic Precinct Wall (Scheduled Ancient Monument) is also visible to the east and south side of College Green; a section runs N. from Edgar Tower (qv) as part of the western boundary to College Precincts; a further section runs S. from Edgar Tower (qv) along the NW side of Castle Place and forming the southern boundary to Nos. 2-6 College Green (qqv). (Worcester Cathedral Publications: Philip Barker: A Short Architectural History of Worcester Cathedral: 1994-: 90).