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Kaleyard Gate

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

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References

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  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.

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