Propylaea
PROPYLAEA, CASTLE SQUARE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1271822
- Date first listed:
- 01-Jun-1967
- List Entry Name:
- Propylaea
- Statutory Address:
- PROPYLAEA, CASTLE SQUARE
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-06-20
- Reference:
- IOE01/04053/35
- Rights:
- © Mr Michael J Tuck. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1271822
- Date first listed:
- 01-Jun-1967
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 26-Feb-1985
- List Entry Name:
- Propylaea
- Statutory Address 1:
- PROPYLAEA, CASTLE SQUARE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- PROPYLAEA, CASTLE SQUARE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Cheshire West and Chester (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Chester Castle
- National Grid Reference:
- SJ 40403 65841
Details
SJ 4065 NW CHESTER CASTLE CASTLE SQUARE
4/602 Propylaea (formerly listed as Grand 1.6.67 Entrance, or Propylaea with retaining walls and railings of forecourt)
GV I
Propylaea. 1811-1813. By Thomas Harrison of Chester. Ashlar Manley sandstone with lead roof. Central gateway with colonnades to either side connecting with pavilions. West front: Central gateway of tetrastyle amphiprostyle form with 2 rows of Greek Doric columns which are monolithic and fluted to their upper bodies but merely faceted below. Standing on abaci they have wider intercolum- nation to the centre. Doric entablature above with metopes guttae and mutules continuing around gateway. Panelled attic storey above with raised tablet to centre. To rear dividing wall are a central gateway of full height with lower pedestrian gateways to either side and sunken panels with moulded surrounds over these. To either side are blank walls with mouldings to tops connecting the gateway to the side pavilions which each have two fluted Greek Doric columns to the centre and antae to the corners. Doric entablature above continuing around each pavilion. Pediment with blank tympanum over. Each has a wider opening between the central columns. East front: Central distyle gateway with antae to sides all being monolithic and the central columns fluted to their upper bodies and faceted below. Panelled attic and raised tablet as on west front. Dividing wall has gateways and panels as on west front. One-bay colonnades to either side supported by antae. Portico wings to either side each of tetrastyle form with second phalanx of columns distyle in antis behind, all monolithic. Wider intercolumnation to centre. Entablature over supporting pediment with blank tympanum. The Gateway colonnades and wings all have stone coved ceilings. There are rectangular pedestals to apex and lower angles of pediments. J Mordaunt Crook says of the building in his book The Greek Revival that it combines "direct antique inspiration - the Temple of Philip at Delos and the so-called Temple of Augustus at Athens - with the primal simplicity of the Sublime and the variety of light and shade associated with the Picturesque".
Sources: Frank Simpson - "Chester Castle AD 907-1925". Journal of the Architectural, Archaeological and Historic Society, Chester and North Wales. New Series Vol XXVI Part II.
Nikolaus Pevsner and - The Buildings of England : Cheshire. Edward Hubbard J Mordaunt Crook - "The Architecture of Thomas Harrison" Country Life, April 22, 1971.
Moira A R Ockrim - "Thomas Harrison and the Rebuilding of Chester Castle: A History and Reassessment". Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Vol 66, 1983.
Listing NGR: SJ4040365841
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 452901
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Mordaunt Crook, J, The Greek Revival, (1972)
Journal of the Architectural Archaeological and Historic Society Chester and NWA in The Architectural Archaeological and Historic Society , Vol. 26, ()
Journal of the Chester Archeaological Society in Journal of the Chester Archeaological Society, Vol. 66, (1983)
Country Life in 22 April, (1971)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 08-Jun-2026 at 19:34:20.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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