Number 37 Street Number 45 Row St Ursulas

Number 37 Street and Number 45 Row, also known as St Ursula's, is an undercroft and town house that now functions as an undercroft shop with a newspaper printer at Row level and above. The structure likely originated around the 12th to 13th centuries, with later modifications in the 16th or 17th century. It was largely rebuilt from Row level upwards and refronted at street level in the late 19th century, with further alterations in the 20th century.

The exterior is constructed of sandstone at street and Row levels, timber framing with plaster panels above, and has a slate roof. The street-facing front has half-glazed double doors with flanking windows, all set under three low arches separated by 13th-century-style half columns. The Row front features sandstone end piers, each with a corbel and a carved bracket extending to the inner side, terminating in a pendant. A sandstone balustrade has three panels, each with four arched openings. Modern shopfronts are present. Each upper storey exhibits tripartite windows with 2, 4, and 2 lights, with the central portion projecting to form a two-story oriel, supported by a Row bressumer and featuring a small pentice roof on each side. The third storey has a transom. The ends of the posts of the timber framing are carved as Ionic pilasters. The hipped roof includes a gablet over the oriel, with herringbone struts, plain bargeboards, and a truncated bargepost. A modern extension obscures the rear.

The interior undercroft consists of five and a half bays; the first half-bay encroaches on the street. The following three bays feature oak beams, while the rear two bays have a quadripartite vault, dating to the late 13th century or possibly earlier, with chamfered ribs. A rear doorway with a continuously chamfered round arch suggests that the doorway and undercroft walls date to the late 12th century, representing the earliest features yet dated within Chester’s Row undercrofts. Early masonry continues under the Row, but not under the stallboard. Sections of 16th or 17th century timber framing are visible in the west wall at the stairwell leading to the third storey. A king-post roof truss over the fourth storey, likely dating from the 19th century, incorporates reused 17th-century timbers.

The building is designated as Grade I in recognition of the exceptional interest of the undercroft.