Addleshaw Tower

Towards the end of 1963, it was found that the bells of the cathedral, which were hung in the central tower, needed an overhaul, and ringing was suspended.

Pace recommended that consideration should be given to the building of a separate bell tower in the southeast corner of the churchyard.

[1] The recommendation was accepted by the Dean and Chapter in 1968, and Pace was commissioned to design the tower.

[1] The engineer for the project was Ove Arup and Partners, and the builders were A. Monk and Company, and Frankipile Limited.

Pile foundations were necessary because the tower was built on the site of an old burial ground, and the sandstone bedrock was near the surface.

The bells were rung for a wedding for the first time on 26 February 1975, the bride being a member of the Grosvenor family.

For the occasion, each bell was rung separately by a ringer from one of thirteen different towers in the Chester area.

The tower is the headquarters of the Chester Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers.

A spiral staircase leads up to the ringing chamber, where the bell ropes are arranged in a circle.