Chester Castle: Agricola Tower and Castle Walls

Chester Castle's Agricola Tower stands as the first stone gateway constructed by William the Conqueror's castle, founded in 1070 in the city's south-west corner. The 13th-century tower bears the name of the Roman general who conquered Wales, though it has historically been called Julius Caesar's or Caesar's Tower. From around 1189, Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester, gradually rebuilt the defences in stone, with the Agricola Tower and Flag Tower surviving from this period. The inner archway was reconstructed around 1302 when the tower was repurposed as an office and strongroom for the earl's treasurer. Within the tower lies the hidden chapel of St Mary de Castro, featuring rare wall paintings dating to approximately 1240. The castle site itself rests upon Roman foundations—initially a turf wall with timber buildings begun circa AD78, rebuilt in stone with 4 gates and 26 towers by AD102.