Bridge of Sighs, Chester

The Bridge of Sighs in Chester is a crossing that originally led from the Northgate gaol, across the Chester Canal, to a chapel in the Bluecoat School. It was built to allow condemned prisoners to receive the last rites before their execution without risk of escape.[1] It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.[2]

Bridge of Sighs

History

The bridge was built probably in 1793. It originally had iron railings to prevent the prisoners from escaping. The railings were removed during World War II.[3] The architect was Joseph Turner.[4]

After the Northgate Prison closed, Chester City Corporation tried to have the bridge removed in 1821.

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bridge of Sighs, Chester.
  1. "The Northgate Part II". History Tour & Map. 21 August 2009.
  2. Historic England, "Bridge of Sighs, Chester (1375967)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 8 April 2012
  3. Langtree, Stephen; Comyns, Alan, eds. (2001), 2000 Years of Building: Chester's Architectural Legacy, Chester: Chester Civic Trust, p. 126, ISBN 0-9540152-0-7
  4. Hartwell, Clare; Hyde, Matthew; Hubbard, Edward; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2011) [1971], Cheshire, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, p. 270, ISBN 978-0-300-17043-6

53°11′37.86″N 2°53′37.43″W

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