![Norman Arch lister park bradford uk](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1176e1_91fb16a35586428e8bea022bd511a40b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_82,h_62,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/1176e1_91fb16a35586428e8bea022bd511a40b~mv2.jpg)
Norman Arch, Lister Park
The Keighley Road Memorial gatehouse, more commonly called the Norman Arch, (Grade II Listed) is an mock-historic structure erected in 1883 to celebrate the visit to Bradford of the Prince and Princess of Wales
![Norman Arch lister park bradford uk](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1176e1_10138b514d0348b7a2d194d57c44a99b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_600,h_509,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Norman%20Arch%201.jpg)
Designed by Frank Healey in 1883 it has a central arch which contains a timber framed portcullis style gate and is flanked by octagonal turrets.
![Norman Arch keighley road bradford](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1176e1_88589fb404804823bc5786435e529168~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_133,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Norman%20Arch%202.jpg)
The Keighley road side of the Arch has two shield shaped ashlar tablets. The one on the right has the 3 lions of England and the left one represents the four nations of the British Isles
![Norman Arch shield three lions](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1176e1_2f56b26a2b79489d9facc743ca76849b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_89,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Norman%20Arch%203.jpg)
![Norman Arch 4.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1176e1_3c75736c854349fcba0fe4984e558992~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_102,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Norman%20Arch%204.jpg)
Above the shields runs a balcony with alternating carvings of the white rose of Yorkshire and panels with relief carvings of the feather motif of the Prince of Wales.
![Norman Arch white rose carvings](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1176e1_6114d359bb02469c9be60647329d02fb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_50,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Norman%20Arch%205.jpg)
Originally the structure only had one large central arch and a smaller one but a former city architect added another because he loved symmetry
![Norman Arch lister park bradford](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1176e1_3d0e737bef494f30b243de615a197e3c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_94,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Norman%20Arch%207.jpg)
Looking up at the structure from inside the park you will see a tablet carved with the Bradford coat-of-arms when Bradford was still classed as a town.
The four numerals in each corner represent the date 1882 and there is the legend labor omnia vincit in a gothic script which means "Work conquers all".
John Hill was mayor of Bradford 1881-1882
![Norman Arch John Hill mayor carving](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1176e1_fba4e102c1424bc7a05e2fbcec324251~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_100,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Norman%20Arch%206.jpg)
![Norman Arch surrounded by crocus](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1176e1_1ca6467eb4cf43468144b4532dd1b5ed~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_111,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Norman%20Arch%208.jpg)