Chepstow Port Wall, Chepstow, Monmouthshire NP16 5JA. Free entry

Details

Accessibility

Adjacent with Disability Parking is Welsh Street Car Park, 11 Dell View, Chepstow NP16 5JA

Brief description

"Extensive remains of medieval town walls:

Built by Norman lord Roger Bigod III between 1272 and 1278 at the same time as he was making improvements to the castle, Chepstow’s walls remain an impressive feature of today’s town. Standing up to 13ft/4m high, they originally stretched for almost three quarters of a mile from the west end of the castle all the way to the River Wye in the south, enclosing the medieval town, port and large open area of orchards and meadows.

Extensive sections of the wall still stand, along with the town gate and remains of several of the 10 semi-circular towers that stood at regular intervals."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chepstow_Port_Wall

"The Port Wall in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales, is a late thirteenth century stone wall, which was constructed for the twin purposes of defence and tax collection by permitting users of the town's market only one point of access through the wall at the Town Gate. The wall originally formed a semi-circle extending for some 1,100 metres (3,600 ft), roughly southwards from Chepstow Castle to the River Wye. It enclosed an area of 53 hectares (130 acres), including the entire town and port as it existed at that time. Substantial sections of the wall remain intact, and both the Port Wall and the Town Gate are Grade I listed buildings. The Port Wall is a Scheduled monument.

The wall remained wholly intact until it was breached in 1846 to allow the construction of the railway line between Chepstow and Newport. The stretch of wall running south of the railway line to the river was then demolished in 1916 for the development of the National Shipyard No.1 during the First World War, and a further gap was opened up in the wall shortly afterwards to enable the children of shipyard workers in the newly built Hardwick Garden City estate, just outside the wall, pedestrian access to their school. Gaps in the wall were later opened to give vehicle access to the main town car park at Welsh Street in the 1960s, and for a new relief road (A48) in the early 1970s.[3][5]

The Port Wall was given Grade I Listed Building status on 24 March 1975

The wall is, on average, about 5 metres (16 ft) high and 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) thick. It was built without any substantial foundations, and is faced with roughly squared blocks of stone ashlar and filled with rubble.[6] It originally had a walkway along the inside and battlements along the top, and at least 11 outward-facing semi-circular towers, each about 8 metres in diameter. In some stretches there was a dry ditch outside the wall.[4] It is uncertain whether the wall originally extended from the castle wall itself, or from a point across the Dell, a steeply sided valley which forms a natural moat on the south side of the castle.[3][5] "

Address

Chepstow NP16 5JA

Email

Phone

Website

https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/chepstow-port-wall

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chepstow_Port_Wall

Directions

Opening Times

Always check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change

Open " April-31 March", Free entry

Transport

For further travel information in Wales please see: www.traveline.cymru/travel-info

Or call Traveline Cymru on 0800 464 0000

Amenities

Adjacent with Disability Parking is Welsh Street Car Park

11 Dell View

Chepstow

NP16 5JA