King Charles Tower

King Charles Tower. . This historic lookout and meeting place is one of the most iconic towers on the City Walls., The King Charles Tower was once a medieval watch-tower, but by the 17th century had fallen into disrepair. Not enough 'murage' tax was being raised for its upkeep, or to maintain that of the City Walls. To solve the problem the city guilds were invited to lease the principal towers as meeting-houses and undertake to keep them in good repair. This tower became known as the Phoenix Tower after the emblem of the Painters' Company, which met here. You can still see a stone phoenix from 1613 above the door to your left., A Royalist church window , It is reputed that King Charles witnessed the defeat of his Royalist forces at the Battle of Rowton Moor from this tower in 1645. This colour print shows a Royalist church window in nearby Farndon, celebrating the "Cheshire gentleman who attended King Charles at the Siege of Chester.", An artist's impression of a guild meeting at the Phoenix Tower , This illustration shows a Painter' Company meeting in 1620, on hte Festival of St Luke, the patron saint of painters, when the tower would have been decorated with rushes and flowers., The King Charles Tower in the early 19th century , This early 19th century print shows the King Charles Tower when the City Walls had become a popular promenade.