Northgate, Chester

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Northgate

Northgate
Carries Chester city walls
Crosses Northgate Street
Locale Chester, Cheshire, England
Designer Thomas Harrison
Design Arch bridge
Material Sandstone
Opened 1810
Toll None
Coordinates 53°11′38″N 2°53′36″W / 53.193822°N 2.893366°W / 53.193822; -2.893366Coordinates: 53°11′38″N 2°53′36″W / 53.193822°N 2.893366°W / 53.193822; -2.893366

The Northgate is in Chester, Cheshire, England, where it carries the city walls footpath over Northgate Street (grid reference SJ404666). It is designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.[1]

History

The present Northgate stands on the site of the original northern Roman entrance to Chester.[2] During the medieval period, it was unimportant and it was used only for local access. At that time it consisted of a simple rectangular tower with a narrow gateway. It later was the site of the local gaol.[3] The present Northgate was built in 1810 to replace a medieval gatehouse and was designed by Thomas Harrison for Chester City Council.[1]

Architecture

It is built in pale red sandstone ashlar and consists of a segmental arch with a coffered soffit which spans the carriageway. On each side of the arch is a rectangular portal for the pavement. On both sides of the portals are attached unfluted monolithic Doric half-columns at each corner. Across the top of the structure is a dentilled cornice which carries a panelled parapet.[1][4] In constructing Northgate, Harrison used "as few and as huge stones as possible".[4]

See also

References

Citaitons

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 English Heritage, "The Northgate, Chester (1376370)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 18 September 2011 
  2. ↑ Ward 2009, p. 7.
  3. ↑ Ward 2009, p. 39.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hartwell et al. 2011, p. 252.

Sources

External links

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