Kaleyard Gate Explained

Kaleyard Gate is a postern gate in Chester city walls, Cheshire, England . It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

In the 13th century the monks of St Werburgh's Abbey had developed a vegetable garden (known as the kaleyard) outside the city walls. They wanted an easier route to access the kaleyard than the longer walk through Eastgate so 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.[1]

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

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Ward, Simon . Chester: A History . Phillimore . 2009 . Chichester . 40. 978-1-86077-499-7 .