Kaleyard Gate, Chester

Chester city walls showing Kaleyard Gate

Kaleyard Gate is a postern gate in Chester city walls, Cheshire, England (grid reference SJ406665). It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.[1]

In the 13th century the monks of St Werburgh's Abbey had developed a vegetable garden (known as the kaleyard) outside the city walls. Access to it was by a devious walk through Eastgate and they wanted to have an easier route. They petitioned Edward I in 1275 to allow them to cut a gate through the wall to provide direct access to the garden. This he allowed under certain conditions, one of which was that it must be locked at nightfall.[2]

The gate consists of a simple opening in the sandstone wall containing a door.

Door in Kaleyard Gate showing the notice about closing the gate

See also

References

  1. Historic England, "Kaleyard Gate, Chester (1376161)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 15 July 2012
  2. Ward, Simon (2009), Chester: A History, Chichester: Phillimore, p. 40, ISBN 978-1-86077-499-7

Coordinates: 53°11′33″N 2°53′23″W / 53.1926°N 2.8897°W / 53.1926; -2.8897


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