Summary
The Northgate is a gate located in Chester, Cheshire, England, where it carries the city walls footpath over Northgate Street (grid reference SJ404666). It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.[1]
Northgate | |
|---|---|
 Northgate | |
| Coordinates | 53°11′38″N 2°53′36″W / 53.193822°N 2.893366°W |
| Carries | Chester city walls |
| Crosses | Northgate Street |
| Locale | Chester, Cheshire, England |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch bridge |
| Material | Sandstone |
| History | |
| Designer | Thomas Harrison |
| Opened | 1810 |
| Statistics | |
| Toll | None |
| Location | |
 | |
History edit
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 edit
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 edit
References edit
Citations
Sources
- Hartwell, Clare; Hyde, Matthew; Hubbard, Edward; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2011) [1971], Cheshire, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, ISBN 978-0-300-17043-6
- Ward, Simon (2009). Chester: A History. Chichester: Phillimore. ISBN 978-1-86077-499-7.
- Historic England, "The Northgate, Chester (1376370)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 18 September 2011
External links edit
- 3D reconstruction on YouTube.
- The Northgate on 'Chester: a Virtual Stroll Around the Walls'