Kaleyard Gate, Chester

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]

Chester city walls showing Kaleyard Gate

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