Northgate, Chester
| 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°WCoordinates: 53°11′38″N 2°53′36″W / 53.193822°N 2.893366°W |
The Northgate is in Chester, Cheshire, England, where it carries the city walls footpath over Northgate Street (grid reference SJ404666). It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.[1]
Contents |
[edit] 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]
[edit] 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]
[edit] See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Chester
- List of works by Thomas Harrison
- Bridgegate, Chester
- Eastgate and Eastgate Clock
[edit] References
- ^ a b c The Northgate, Chester (1376370). National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. Retrieved 18 September 2011.}
- ^ Ward 2009, p. 7.
- ^ Ward 2009, p. 39.
- ^ a b Hartwell, Claire; Hyde, Matthew; Hubbard, Edward; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2011) [1971], Cheshire, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, p. 252, ISBN 978-0-300-17043-6
- Bibliography
- Ward, Simon (2009). Chester: A History. Chichester: Phillimore. ISBN 978-1-86077-499-7.
