Kaleyard Gate, Chester

Chester city walls showing Kaleyard Gate

Kaleyard Gate is a postern gate in Chester city walls, Cheshire, England (grid reference SJ406665). It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.[1]

In the 13th century the monks of St Werburgh's Abbey had developed a vegetable garden (known as the kaleyard) outside the city walls. Access to it was by a devious walk through Eastgate and they wanted to have an easier route. They petitioned Edward I in 1275 to allow them to cut a gate through the wall to provide direct access to the garden. This he allowed under certain conditions, one of which was that it must be locked at nightfall.[2]

The gate consists of a simple opening in the sandstone wall containing a door.

Door in Kaleyard Gate showing the notice about closing the gate

See also

References

  1. ↑ Historic England. "Kaleyard Gate, Chester (1376161)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  2. ↑ Ward, Simon (2009), Chester: A History, Chichester: Phillimore, p. 40, ISBN 978-1-86077-499-7

Coordinates: 53°11′33″N 2°53′23″W / 53.1926°N 2.8897°W