Edgar Tower

Edgar Tower is a gatehouse begun around 1300-35 and completed after a licence to crenellate was obtained in 1368-9. It was restored in the 19th century and was likely originally the entrance to the castle. The building is constructed of coursed red sandstone with a concealed roof. It is a single storey over an arched gateway of two bays, with embattled octagonal towers set into each corner.

The west front features a central, wide, 4-centred arch with continuous double chamfers and an ogeed hoodmould, surmounted by renewed canopied niches between two 2-light trefoil-headed windows with crocketed hoodmoulds. A further small trefoil light is located to the left. The towers are set off to each stage and have chamfered bands and a moulded cornice; slits are present in the upper stage, and a blocked 2-light window and a blocked lancet are visible on the north-west side. To the south-west is a semi-circular window in the lower stage.

The east facade is similar to the west, with a triple-chamfered arch, a renewed hoodmould, renewed canopied niches, and tabernacle work with renewed figures of kings, queens and bishops. The towers have paired ogeed lights. The upper stage of the outer walls has paired lights with Y-tracery to the left and slits to the right.

The interior is divided into two bays by a cross wall with carriage and pedestrian arches. It contains a round-arched gateway with a triple chamfer to the head and battened timber double doors, followed by a smaller arch with a double chamfer and a similar single door. The inner vault has diagonal and ridge ribs, while the outer has liernes, both springing from slender columns. Pointed-arched plank doors lead to the upper stages, with the north door being renewed. The upper floor includes a rib-vault to the landing and two turret rooms with small rib-vaults. The main upper room contains a small doorway with a shouldered lintel, the shoulders being double-curved.

The tower abuts the monastic precinct wall, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Sections of the Monastery Wall running north and south of the Water Gate are also listed. Edgar Tower is part of a significant group of buildings forming the setting for Worcester Cathedral.