More information : [SJ 4048 6573] The Castle [TU] Tower [G.T.] (1)
Originally an earthwork fortress of the motte and bailey type, occupying the southern and higher portion of the site covered by the 12th c. castle which was walled with stone. A lower bailey was added mid-13th c. with a gateway and ditch on the north side
(2).
[Plans-See photo AO/LP/63/36]
The only mediaeval work remaining is Caesar's Tower (also known as Agricola's and Magazine Tower) which contains the 12th c. chapel of St. Mary de Castro. The rest of the castle was destroyed mainly in the late 18th c. and replaced in 1811 by the Shire Hall (3). Scheduled (4). (2-4)
There has been considerable rebuilding and restoration of this tower.
A M.O.W. name plate reads "Agricola Tower".
See G.P. AO/64/225/8 (5)
The original earthwork here is regarded by King and Alcock as possibly a ringwork. (6)
The grass covered slopes on the SW side of "The Castle" are probably a relic of the original earthwork. Otherwise no change since report of 28 7 64. (7)
Additional references (8-10)
Listed by Cathcart King. (11)
Although built by William I, except during minorities or once when forfeited to the Crown in 1174, the castle was a possession of the Earls of Chester. However, with the death of the last Earl in 1237, it permanently passed to the Crown. It was extensively renovated in 1246-51 during Henry III's Welsh Wars. Plan of castle as it was in the 18th century. (12)
The Earldom of Chester remained a royal patrimony throughout the Mediaeva period, and the castle at Chester remained a centre of judicial activity. Expenditure on the castle was mainly in the form of mantenance, and usually inadequate at that. The only new construction between 1485 and 1649 was the Prince's Hall to provide accomodation for the shire court. Although never wholly neglected, the sums spent on the fabric of the castle were comparatively small. (13)
Full conservation plan for the castle. (14)
Excavation of the 17th century and later armoury and mint. (15)
The altar recess was decorated with elegant busts of angels in roundels, extremely similar in style to 13th century sculpture found in Westminster Abbey. The vault contains a fine depiction of the Visitation. More than 20 figures were found, as well as an inscription and ornamental decoration. Fragmentary figure subjects were also found on the upper parts of the chapel wall, though to show the Miracles of the Virgin. Earlier twelfth century paintings survive beneath the thirteenth century paintings. The original technique appears to be based on lime using a suprisingly limited range of pigments. The paintings may date from c1220 from the time of Earl Rannulf III and may be a rare example of baronial wall paintings of this period. (16)
The wall paintings in the chapel may have been exectued for Henry III in c. 1240, the scenes show Christ's Infancy, and are set in a complex arrangement of trefoils and quarefoils. (17)
Brief accessible overview of Chester Castle for visitors. (18)
Building work at the colonnade in 1980 enabled a cross section of the castle ditch to be excavated, evidence for a possible causeway across the ditch was recorded. Between 1980-81, a test hole below the chapel floor was also excavated. A pit yielding mid to late 17th century finds was revealed. (19) |