West City Walls

The West City Walls are a medieval defensive structure, largely dating to the 12th century, with substantial rebuilding and refacing work occurring in 1746 and again in 1876-7, 1985, and 1988-9. The walls are constructed of squared blocks of red sandstone, with some calciferous sandstone, and incorporate some re-used Roman stone. Parts of the wall have a chamfered plinth and are battered. The gently curving wall is built against a river terrace, acting as a retaining wall, with West Walls street situated at a higher level. A northern projection was rebuilt or refaced in 1876-7, and features an inscription stone reading WEST WALLS. Stone steps were added in 1883 leading to the Town Dyke Orchard, with the surrounding parapet rebuilt in red sandstone in 1985. In 1988, a series of buildings butting against the wall were demolished, necessitating partial rebuilding of the wall using stone from the demolished buildings. Foundation stones from the demolished structures were incorporated, including stones commemorating The Fawcett Schools (dated 1851), the mayor and date for a police station extension (1879), and the mayor and date for the original police station (1840), along with a stone recording the restoration and the unveiling date of April 21, 1989. At the southern end, Sallyport steps were added around 1813, alongside a medieval sallyport opening, now visible as an arched recess. The wall continues south of the Sallyport but is largely concealed by buildings; further details can be found under the listings for Nos 10-22 West Walls and Carlisle Castle. An engraving of the completed West Walls from 1745, by the Buck Brothers, is featured in J Cornforth's Country Life (1978).