Section of medieval city wall

City wall, C12 with later modifications.

MATERIALS: sandstone, partially rendered, and underpinned by brick.

PLAN: a 70m linear length of wall.

DESCRIPTION: a length of the medieval town wall of Carlisle, truncated to its upper part, with later modifications. The wall comprises two sections: a longer western part and a shorter eastern part, separated by a set-back.

The western section, which later formed the rear wall of a narrow C19 stable range (now demolished), has rendered upper parts, and the lower walls are formed of thinly-coursed stonework of C19 character thought to be later underpinning. There are the remains of a chamfered plinth above, cut back in places, and above this are three or four courses of large squared sandstone blocks, identified as undisturbed medieval fabric. Various secondary openings pierce the wall including a drain, sockets for floor timbers and a larger hatch with a stone chute below. At the east end of this section the later re-facing extends up to the base of the rendered top section. Five short attached sections of cross walling that originally formed part of the C19 stable range, and which buttress the city wall, are not of special interest and are excluded from the listing.

The section of wall to the east beyond the set back formed the rear of a former late-C19 hotel (now demolished), and medieval masonry is considered to survive in its lower parts; the wall above this, which is of roughly coursed stone incorporating many tooled blocks, is considered to be C19 in date.