Pemberton's Parlour, Chester

Pemberton's Parlour, also known as the Goblin Tower or Dille's Tower, is a historic structure located on the northern section of Chester's iconic city walls. This Grade I listed building, crafted from red sandstone, boasts a crenelated parapet and a rich history tied to the city's medieval and Victorian past.

Originally constructed as a circular tower straddling the city walls, Pemberton's Parlour was far taller than its current form. During the reign of Queen Anne, the structure was rebuilt as a semicircular tower. It underwent another significant reconstruction in 1894, prompted by vibrations from nearby train lines. The tower now functions as a gazebo, offering a semicircular chamber with seating that faces the walkway of the walls.

Above the chamber鈥檚 entrance arch are three panels. The outer panels display the royal arms and the arms of Chester in relief, while the central panel, made of yellow sandstone, contains an inscription commemorating 18th-century repairs to the city walls. Despite weathering, these plaques remain a testament to the tower鈥檚 storied past. The parapet is inscribed with "GOBLIN TOWER: REBUILT 1894," linking its historic and modern identities.

The tower is said to be named after John Pemberton, a former mayor of Chester, who used the structure to oversee work on his nearby ropewalk. Today, Pemberton's Parlour remains a fascinating blend of architectural charm and historical significance, offering visitors a unique glimpse into Chester鈥檚 layered heritage.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Chester. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Pemberton's Parlour
Sight Location: Chester, England (See walking tours in Chester)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Chester's City Walls

Walking Tours in Chester, England

Create Your Own Walk in Chester

Creating your own self-guided walk in Chester is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Chester's City Walls

Chester City Walls are the oldest, longest and most complete (missing only just about 100 meters) historic defensive structure in Britain. Walking the full circuit of this ancient fortification provides wondrous views, wherever you choose to go, down into the city, and offers a fantastic insight into Chester's rich history.

First built by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago, the Walls were... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles

Chester's Black-and-white Architecture Tour

While the origins of Chester date back to Roman Times, much of the city center, and by far the greatest part of it, looks medieval. Indeed, if you visit the city, the first thing you notice is the magnificent black-and-white architecture. Despite their appearance, however, the majority of these buildings are Victorian by the time of construction.

The Black-and-White Revival was an architectural... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles

Chester Introduction Walking Tour

Chester is a walled city in Cheshire. It was originally founded in 79 AD as a Roman fort with the name Deva Victrix. It was garrisoned until the 4th century when it was abandoned by the Romans. It is thought that the area was settled by Anglo-Saxons during medieval times. It was also briefly occupied by the Danes.

Chester was very important during the Industrial Revolution. This is largely due... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles

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