Editing Chester Castle (section)

==Present day==
[[Image:Propyleum, Chester.jpg|thumb|left|[[Thomas Harrison (architect)|Harrison]]'s [[Propylaeum]], the ceremonial entrance to the Castle]]
The complex is entered from Grosvenor Road through the [[Propylaeum]], a Grade&nbsp;I [[listed building]]. This consists of a massive [[entablature]] supported on widely spaced (''areostyle'') [[Doric order|Doric columns]], flanked by temple-like lodges.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num= 1271822|desc= Propylaea, Chester Castle |access-date= 8 April 2012 |mode=cs2}}</ref> Directly ahead is the former [[Chester Crown Court|Shire Hall]] (also listed Grade&nbsp;I) which now houses the [[Crown Court]]s. Its façade has 19&nbsp;bays, the central seven bays of which project forward and constitute a Doric [[portico]].<ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num= 1271823|desc= Assize Courts Block, Chester Castle |access-date= 8 April 2012 |mode=cs2|fewer-links=yes}}</ref> To the left is the former barracks block which is now the home of the [[Cheshire Military Museum]] and an army cadet detachment. To the right is the block which was originally an armoury and later an officers' [[mess]]. Both blocks are in neoclassical style and are listed Grade&nbsp;I.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num= 1271824|desc= A Block, Chester Castle|access-date= 8 April 2012|mode=cs2|fewer-links=yes}}</ref><ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num= 1245520|desc= B Block, Chester Castle|access-date= 8 April 2012|mode=cs2|fewer-links=yes}}</ref>

Further to the right are the remains of the Norman castle. The Agricola Tower is a Grade&nbsp;I listed building. It is built in [[sandstone]] [[ashlar]] with a metal roof in three storeys. The ground floor has a blocked gateway and to the right of the gateway is a slightly projecting stair turret. Internally, the ground floor consists of a crypt, and the first floor contains the chapel of St Mary Castro.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num= 1271825|desc= Agricola Tower, Chester Castle|access-date= 8 April 2012|mode=cs2|fewer-links=yes}}</ref> The Agricola Tower is also a [[scheduled monument]].<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1100771 |title=Pastscape:Agricola Tower |access-date= 5 April 2009|publisher=[[Historic England]] }}</ref><ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num= 1006773|desc= Chester Castle (part)|access-date= 8 April 2012|mode=cs2|fewer-links=yes}}</ref> The chapel is still consecrated as the regimental chapel of the Cheshire Regiment. Its ceiling is covered with [[fresco]]s dating from the early part of the 13th century which depict the [[Visitation (Christian)|Visitation]] and [[miracle]]s performed by the [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Virgin Mary]] which were revealed during conservation work in the 1990s.<ref name=ccc/>
[[Image:Agricola Tower.jpeg|thumb|Agricola Tower]]
To the south and the west, the curtain walls, which include the Halfmoon Tower, the Flag Tower and the gun emplacement, are listed Grade&nbsp;I.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num= 1245537|desc= Curtain wall to west and south west of inner bailey, Chester Castle|access-date= 8 April 2012|mode=cs2|fewer-links=yes}}</ref> Other walls within the castle complex are listed Grade&nbsp;II. These are the retaining walls and the railing of the forecourt designed by Thomas Harrison,<ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num= 1245518|desc= Retaining walls and railing of semi circular forecourt, Chester Castle|access-date= 8 April 2012|mode=cs2|fewer-links=yes}}</ref> and two other areas of the medieval curtain walls.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num= 1271821|desc= Curtain wall to east of inner bailey, Chester Castle|access-date= 8 April 2012|mode=cs2|fewer-links=yes}}</ref><ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num= 1245539|desc= Curtain wall to south of inner bailey, Chester Castle|access-date= 8 April 2012|mode=cs2|fewer-links=yes}}</ref> In the castle courtyard is a statue of [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]] dated 1903 by [[F. W. Pomeroy|Pomeroy]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Pevsner|Hubbard|2003|p=158.}}</ref> The inner bailey is managed by [[Cheshire West and Chester|Cheshire West and Chester Council]] on behalf of [[English Heritage]].<ref name=ccc/>