Pemberton's Parlour

Pemberton's Parlour
Goblin Tower
Pemberton's Parlour
LocationChester, England
Coordinates53°11′35″N 2°53′50″W / 53.19300°N 2.89723°W / 53.19300; -2.89723
OS grid referenceSJ 402 666
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated28 July 1955
Reference no.1376131
Pemberton's Parlour is located in Cheshire
Pemberton's Parlour
Location in Cheshire

Pemberton's Parlour is a structure on the northern part of the Chester city walls, and it was formerly known as the Goblin Tower. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.[1]

History

The structure originated as a circular tower straddling the city walls. During the reign of Queen Anne it was rebuilt as a semicircular tower. It was reconstructed in 1894.[2] It is now described as a gazebo, and is said to be named after John Pemburton, the mayor of Chester, who stood on it to supervise the work taking place on his nearby ropewalk.[1]

Map
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170m
185yds
Cathedral
Chester Cathedral
Chester Cathedral
Castle
Chester Castle
Chester Castle
Roman
Amphi-
theatre
Chester Amphitheatre
Chester Amphitheatre
33
32
32 Watergate
32 Watergate
31
30
29
28
28
28 Bridgegate
28 Bridgegate
27
27
26
25
25 Recorder's Steps
25 Recorder's Steps
24
23
23 Barnaby's Tower
23 Barnaby's Tower
22
21
21
21 Newgate
21 Newgate
20
20
19
19
18
18 Thimbleby's Tower
18 Thimbleby's Tower
17
16
16 Eastgate
16 Eastgate
15
14
14 Kaleyard Gate
14 Kaleyard Gate
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12
12 Phoenix Tower
12 Phoenix Tower
11
10
10 Northgate
10 Northgate
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8
8
8 Morgan's Mount
8 Morgan's Mount
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7
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4 Pemberton's Parlour
4 Pemberton's Parlour
3
2
2 Spur Wall and Water Tower
2 Spur Wall and Water Tower
1
1 Bonewaldesthorne's Tower
1 Bonewaldesthorne's Tower
The Walls of Medieval
and Roman Chester
Medieval City Walls
The Roman Fortress
Roman Roads
Towers and Gates
Section of Wall
   
Map of central Chester, showing the line of the city walls and the gates, towers and wall sections of the medieval and post-medieval city.[3]
[Hide/Show the list of Gates, Towers and Wall sections]
1
Bonewaldesthorne's Tower
2
Spur Wall and Water Tower
3
Wall between Bonewaldesthorne's Tower and Pemberton's Parlour
4
Pemberton's Parlour
5
Wall between Pemberton's Parlour and St Martin's Gate
6
St Martin's Gate
7
Wall between St Martin's Gate and Morgan's Mount
8
Morgan's Mount
9
Wall between Morgan's Mount and Northgate
10
Northgate
11
Wall between Northgate and Phoenix Tower
12
Phoenix Tower
13
Wall between Phoenix Tower and Kaleyard Gate
14
Kaleyard Gate
15
Wall between Kaleyard Gate and Eastgate
16
Eastgate
17
Wall between Eastgate and Thimbleby's Tower
18
Thimbleby's Tower
19
Wall between Thimbleby's Tower and Old Newgate
20
Old Newgate
21
Newgate
22
Wall between Newgate and Barnaby's Tower
23
Barnaby's Tower
24
Wall between Barnaby's Tower and the Drum Tower
25
Recorder's Steps
26
Drum Tower
27
Wall between the Drum Tower and Bridgegate
28
Bridgegate
29
Wall between Bridgegate and the former County Hall
30
Wall between former County Hall and Grosvenor Road
31
Wall between Grosvenor Road and Watergate
32
Watergate
33
Wall between Watergate and Bonewaldesthorne's Tower

Architecture

The structure is built in red sandstone. On the south side, facing the walkway of the walls, is an arch leading to a semicircular chamber. Above this are three panels, the lateral ones containing the royal arms, and the arms of Chester in relief. Between these is another panel in yellow sandstone with an inscription relating to the repair of the walls in the 18th century.[1][4] The parapet is crenellated and inscribed with "GOBLIN TOWER: REBUILT 1894".[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Historic England, "Pembertons Parlour, Chester (1376131)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 15 July 2012
  2. ^ Hartwell, Clare; Hyde, Matthew; Hubbard, Edward; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2011) [1971], Cheshire, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, p. 253, ISBN 978-0-300-17043-6
  3. ^ "The walls, towers, gates and posterns of the City of Chester". Historic England. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  4. ^ Ward, Simon (2009), Chester: A History, Chichester: Phillimore, p. 79, ISBN 978-1-86077-499-7