Shipgate House

Shipgate House is a town house situated on Shipgate Street, Chester, that has undergone several phases of development. While some internal features likely date to the late 17th century, the facade was rebuilt in the mid-18th century. The building is constructed of red-brown brick in a Flemish bond pattern, with stone dressings, and has a hipped grey slate roof running parallel to the front.

The building has a basement and three storeys and a double-fronted appearance. The brick plinth has flush quoins and a moulded stone cap, featuring three steps leading to a door with three fielded panels and a small-pane cross-window to its left. An external L-shaped stone staircase, consisting of five steps and then four steps supported on a brick base, provides access to a door with six fielded panels and a fanlight composed of shaped panes within a case featuring fluted pilasters and a pedimented hood supported on modillion brackets. The ground floor has two flush 12-pane sashes. The second storey is marked by a stone floor band and three flush sashes with 12 square panes. The third storey is similarly distinguished by a floor band and three flush 12-pane sashes, all featuring stone sills and gauged brick heads with keystones. A stone cornice sits atop the facade, supported by modillions, and the boxed eaves project boldly, featuring a moulded cornice that returns to the south-west side. The rear of the building has been altered.

The basement contains likely 17th-century external walls constructed of coursed sandstone and six chamfered oak cross-beams. The second bay incorporates a former inglenook, pierced to create a doorway leading to No. 4 Shipgate Street. The first storey has a simple passage leading to a stair hall, defined by a round arch on fluted antae and a refaced basket-arch beneath the landing. A six-panel door gives access to the west-front room. The open-well closed-string oak staircase features square newels, two barley-sugar balusters per step, straight rails with a moulded rectangular section, and a panelled dado with panelled pilasters. The second-storey landing has oak beams and the front room has oak shutters in embrasures, a fluted frieze, and a moulded cornice. The open-well staircase continues to the third storey and attic. The third storey features three oak beams parallel to the front and two angled beams. The attic has angled struts, principal rafters, purlins, and rafters of oak. The building is designated Grade II*, recognizing the significance of the facade and staircase.