Water Tower, Chester

The Water Tower, originally known as the New Tower, is a 14th-century defensive structure in Chester, attached to Bonewaldesthorne's Tower by a spur wall along the city walls. Recognized as a Grade I listed building in the National Heritage List for England, the tower stands as a remarkable example of medieval architecture and remains one of Chester’s best-preserved structures.

Constructed between 1322 and 1325 by architect John (de) Helpston, who also designed castles for King Edward II in North Wales, the Water Tower was built to defend the port of Chester and monitor shipping activities, ensuring the payment of customs dues. At the time of its construction, the tower stood directly in the River Dee, emphasizing its strategic maritime role.

The Chester Mechanics' Institution leased the Water Tower and Bonewaldesthorne’s Tower in 1835, opening a museum in 1838 despite the towers’ limited suitability. Closed in 1916, they were repurposed in the 1920s and purchased by the Grosvenor Museum in 1954, reopening to the public in 1962. Now located 200 yards inland due to river silting, the towers have housed ‘Sick to Death’, an interactive medical history museum, since 2016.

Architecturally, the Water Tower showcases a blend of medieval ingenuity and practicality. Built from sandstone rubble, the tower features a circular base topped with a square turret. Accessed through a city wall archway, visitors descend 44 stone steps to the tower's entrance. The structure comprises two octagonal chambers stacked above each other, connected by a 23-step spiral staircase. A raised fighting platform crowns the tower, complete with crenellations and commanding views. Blocked embrasures and remnants of gun ports reflect its martial history.

The Water Tower’s enduring presence stands as a testament to Chester’s rich medieval past, offering visitors an opportunity to explore its layers of history, from defense and maritime control to its current role as a unique museum experience.