Picture credit: Martina Jorden on Unsplash. Picture caption: The Eastgate Clock in Chester, close to where a section of wall collapsed
When your city walls have been in place since Roman times, it takes several years and considerable engineering work to deal with a significant collapse. A section of Chester’s city walls collapsed back in 2020, and while work has begun to support the site and allow access, it’s not clear exactly when the wall will be fixed.
The section of wall, close to the landmark Eastgate Clock, collapsed after developers dug close to the wall, exposing a section of bare foundations.
Chester is the only UK city with a fully intact defensive wall, or at least it was until very recently. Built by the Romans, Chester’s walls are approximately two miles long and nearly 2000 years old. The walls were extended and developed in the Saxon period, and rebuilt and extended by the Normans. From the 18th century, the walls were less of a defence, and seen more as a fashionable place to walk, which is partly what led to their conservation.
Those walking the city walls today will need to take a detour onto a scaffolding walkway in order to complete the full circuit.
Plans are in place to repair the collapsed section, but it’s a protracted timescale, partly because engineers don’t really know what they’re dealing with. Accessing the collapsed section safely is tricky. And with the walls having been built and rebuilt at different points in history, it’s not clear exactly what work is required, or what the challenges will be.
Stage one is to stabilise the site, and that is expected to be completed this year. Stage two will involve investigations to understand the work required. And the final stage will be carrying out the repairs. Each stage will need to be approved by Historic England.
Currently there is no additional funding for this work, so it comes out of the highways budget for Cheshire West and Chester Council. This may have an impact on the speed at which the work can be carried out.
In a recent statement, in response to public concern, Katrina Kerr, Councillor for Chester City and Garden Quarter at Cheshire West and Chester Council, said, “It’s a complicated and delicate project that presents a number of engineering and safety issues. The walls are unique to Chester and the issues they present are also quite unique, requiring original thinking and a bespoke solution… I know people want it done tomorrow, but please be patient. The council is investing millions in getting it right so that it can stand for another few centuries”.
This is specialist work, and you can’t just send in your local brickie. You need a team of people who are used to working with ancient materials such as lime mortar. On top of that, it’s very difficult for councils to balance their budgets for maintenance and repair, so that’s likely to be a hindrance in this case, especially if this work has to be balanced with spending on potholes and other projects.
Good luck to them, and I hope the engineers involved can devise a creative solution that lasts for many years to come. Meanwhile, if you need any assistance with the structural elements of an upcoming project, please do get in touch.
