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The Great Britain Guide

Historic houses · North West England

Thimbleby's Tower

In or near Chester.

Paid admission♿ Wheelchair: limited4.6 · 2,863 Google reviews££

Thimbleby's Tower — a Grade I-listed historic house in wales-north, United Kingdom.

The Newgate and the NCP car park - geograph.org.uk - 659774

John S Turner — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1 h–2 h
Nearest railway station
Grosvenor Park Miniature Railway · 0.5 km
  • Paid entry
  • Family-friendly
  • Limited wheelchair access

Getting there & planning your visit

Thimbleby's Tower is located in Cheshire West and Chester, with the postcode CH1 1DE. The nearest railway station is Grosvenor Park Miniature Railway, which is 0.5 km away. Entry is paid, and wheelchair access is limited.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Thimbleby's Tower is a Grade I-listed building in wales-north, United Kingdom. Grade I status is conferred by Historic England (or Cadw, Historic Environment Scotland or NIEA equivalents) on buildings of exceptional national interest. See the linked Wikipedia article for full historical and architectural details.

Photo gallery

See it from the streetimagery from 2025

Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0

Heritage listing

Thimbleby's Tower, formerly known as Wolf's Tower, is a structure in the city walls of Chester, Cheshire, England. It stands on the eastern section of the walls, between Eastgate and Newgate. The tower is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.

Official information

Sick to Death is a unique attraction in Chester that explores the history of medicine through interactive exhibits. Visitors can engage with various themes, including the plague, autopsies, and the role of quacks in medicine, all while navigating through creatively designed spaces.

Protected designations

  • Site of Special Scientific Interest: River Dee (England) SSSI

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

Thimbleby's Tower, formerly known as Wolf's Tower, is a structure in the city walls of Chester, Cheshire, England. It stands on the eastern section of the walls, between Eastgate and Newgate. The tower is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

The tower probably dates originally from the 13th century. It was partly demolished in the siege of Chester in 1644–46 during the Civil War. Between 1702 and 1708 the whole of the city walls was converted into a raised walkway and it is likely that the tower was modified as part of this process. Repairs were carried out to it in 1879. It was further altered in 1994–95 for Chester City Council by Peter de Figuerdo.

Architecture

Thimbleby's Tower is constructed in coursed red sandstone rubble. Its plan is semi-octagonal, and it appears to be the outer part of a drum tower without its upper storeys. The lower chamber contains three loops (unglazed slit windows), and at the level of the walkway are the springers of a former vault. During the 1994–95 alterations, the stone parapet between the walkway and the tower was replaced by an oak-framed polycarbonate screen. A steeply pitched gabled roof, hung with tiles, was added to the top of the structure. The citation in the National Heritage List for England states that this "masks its former defensive features and purpose".

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
53.1894, -2.8882
Parish
Cheshire West and Chester, unparished area
Postcode
CH1 1DE
Parliamentary constituency
Chester North and Neston
Nearest railway station
Grosvenor Park Miniature Railway0.5 km
Opening
Daily 10am–6pm; last entry 5pm
Official site
sicktodeath.org

Sources

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Thimbleby's Tower?
Thimbleby's Tower is in North Wales, United Kingdom (postcode CH1 1DE), in the parish of Cheshire West and Chester, unparished area.
What is Thimbleby's Tower?
Thimbleby's Tower — a Grade I-listed historic house in wales-north, United Kingdom.
How do I get to Thimbleby's Tower?
The nearest railway station is Grosvenor Park Miniature Railway, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can use postcode CH1 1DE.
Is Thimbleby's Tower a listed building?
Thimbleby's Tower is officially recognised as Grade I listed.
Is Thimbleby's Tower a protected site?
Yes — Thimbleby's Tower is part of the River Dee (England) SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest.
How do I get to Thimbleby's Tower?
The nearest railway station is Grosvenor Park Miniature Railway, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode CH1 1DE.