Agricola Tower opened up for Tours

TOWER OPENED UP FOR PREVIEW TOURS
21 AND 28 August

Cheshire West and Chester Council, in partnership with English Heritage, will be running one-off behind the scenes tours of the Agricola Tower for two days later this month. The tours, which will run on the 21 and 28 August, will allow visitors to experience a closer look at the on-going work being done to preserve this iconic tower as well as meeting the team and learning more about the conservation techniques being used.

As well as learning more about the intricacies of conserving a building such as this, visitors will be able to climb to the top of the tower as well as seeing rare wall paintings in the chapel as they ascend.

Laura Reynolds, from English Heritage which manages Chester Castle said: "We are pleased to be able to offer these tours in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council. With the scaffolding being up over the past few months the tower has been hidden; but now visitors will be able to get an insight into the work that we've been doing and the steps that we're taking to preserve this iconic tower."

The 12th-century Agricola Tower was the first stone gateway to Chester Castle, which had been founded by William the Conqueror in 1070 and became the administrative centre of the earldom of Chester. On the first floor is the chapel of St Mary de Castro which contains some fine wall paintings dating form around 1240.

The 45 minute tours, costing £5 per person, will run at 11.30, 1.30, 2.30. Tickets can be booked by contacting 01244 972197 (10.30-4.30 Mon to Sat).

Chester Castle
Grosvenor Street
Chester
Cheshire CH1 2DN
Meet your guides at the Castle gate (far corner of Castle Car Park, CH1 2DN)