Pemberton's Parlour

Pemberton's Parlour
Goblin Tower
Pemberton's Parlour
LocationChester, England
Coordinates53°11′35″N 2°53′50″W / 53.19300°N 2.89723°W / 53.19300; -2.89723
OS grid referenceSJ 402 666
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated28 July 1955
Reference no.1376131
Location in Cheshire

Pemberton's Parlour is a structure on the northern part of the Chester city walls, and it was formerly known as the Goblin Tower. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.[1]

History

The structure originated as a circular tower straddling the city walls. During the reign of Queen Anne it was rebuilt as a semicircular tower. It was reconstructed in 1894.[2] It is now described as a gazebo, and is said to be named after John Pemburton, the mayor of Chester, who stood on it to supervise the work taking place on his nearby ropewalk.[1]

170m
185yds
Cathedral
Castle
Roman
Amphi-
theatre
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The Walls of Medieval
and Roman Chester
Medieval City Walls
The Roman Fortress
Roman Roads
Towers and Gates
Section of Wall
Map of central Chester, showing the line of the city walls and the gates, towers and wall sections of the medieval and post-medieval city.[3]
[Hide/Show the list of Gates, Towers and Wall sections]
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Bonewaldesthorne's Tower
2
Spur Wall and Water Tower
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Wall between Bonewaldesthorne's Tower and Pemberton's Parlour
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Pemberton's Parlour
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Wall between Pemberton's Parlour and St Martin's Gate
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St Martin's Gate
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Wall between St Martin's Gate and Morgan's Mount
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Morgan's Mount
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Wall between Morgan's Mount and Northgate
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Northgate
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Wall between Northgate and Phoenix Tower
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Phoenix Tower
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Wall between Phoenix Tower and Kaleyard Gate
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Kaleyard Gate
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Wall between Kaleyard Gate and Eastgate
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Eastgate
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Wall between Eastgate and Thimbleby's Tower
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Thimbleby's Tower
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Wall between Thimbleby's Tower and Old Newgate
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Old Newgate
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Newgate
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Wall between Newgate and Barnaby's Tower
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Barnaby's Tower
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Wall between Barnaby's Tower and the Drum Tower
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Recorder's Steps
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Drum Tower
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Wall between the Drum Tower and Bridgegate
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Bridgegate
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Wall between Bridgegate and the former County Hall
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Wall between former County Hall and Grosvenor Road
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Wall between Grosvenor Road and Watergate
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Watergate
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Wall between Watergate and Bonewaldesthorne's Tower

Architecture

The structure is built in red sandstone. On the south side, facing the walkway of the walls, is an arch leading to a semicircular chamber. Above this are three panels, the lateral ones containing the royal arms, and the arms of Chester in relief. Between these is another panel in yellow sandstone with an inscription relating to the repair of the walls in the 18th century.[1][4] The parapet is crenellated and inscribed with "GOBLIN TOWER: REBUILT 1894".[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Historic England, "Pembertons Parlour, Chester (1376131)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 15 July 2012
  2. ^ Hartwell, Clare; Hyde, Matthew; Hubbard, Edward; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2011) [1971], Cheshire, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, p. 253, ISBN 978-0-300-17043-6
  3. ^ "The walls, towers, gates and posterns of the City of Chester". Historic England. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  4. ^ Ward, Simon (2009), Chester: A History, Chichester: Phillimore, p. 79, ISBN 978-1-86077-499-7