Northgate, Chester
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Northgate | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 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 | |
 Interactive map of Northgate | |
185yds
Amphi-
theatre
and Roman Chester
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]
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]
