Northgate, Chester

The Northgate is a gate located in Chester, Cheshire, England, where it carries the city walls footpath over Northgate Street. It is recorded in the National [Heritage List for England] as a designated Grade I listed building.

History

The present Northgate stands on the site of the original northern Roman entrance to Chester. During the England in [the Middle Ages|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. The present Northgate was built in 1810 to replace a medieval gatehouse and was designed by Thomas Harrison for Chester City Council.

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. In constructing Northgate, Harrison used "as few and as huge stones as possible".