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Bridge of Sighs Chester

Crossing the canal between the Bluecoat and the wall of the former tollhouse outside the Northgate, you can see a dangerous-looking stone footbridge- known as the Bridge of Sighs.

This was built by Joseph Turner (who was also the architect of the Bridgegate and the Watergate) in July 1793 for the sum of £20 in order to prevent the many, often successful, attempts to rescue condemned prisoners in the Northgate Gaol when they crossed the canal cutting to the chapel of Little St. John and the 'apartment made for prisoners' to receive the last rites of the church before their execution.

 

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Uploaded on March 1, 2009
Taken on April 24, 2008