Thimbleby's Tower

Thimbleby’s Tower stands on Chester’s medieval city walls, between Eastgate and Newgate. It was once called Wolf’s Tower and dates from the 13th century. During the Civil War siege of 1644–46 the tower was partly destroyed. Between 1702 and 1708 the whole wall was raised into a walkway, and the tower was changed then. Repairs followed in 1879, and in 1994–95 Peter de Figuerdo altered it for Chester City Council. The Grade I listed building is built of red sandstone rubble in a semi-octagonal plan. Its lower chamber has three slit windows and the remains of a former vault. The 1994–95 work replaced the stone parapet with an oak-framed polycarbonate screen. A steeply pitched tiled roof was added to the top, masking its old defensive look. The National Heritage List for England notes this change in its citation. Visitors find the tower on the raised walkway above the eastern walls. The oak screen and new roof stand out against the red sandstone. From here there are views along the walls and across the city. The three slit windows and vault springers remain inside the lower chamber. The alterations of the 1990s give the structure a modern edge while keeping its historic core.