Heath House, 179 Christleton Road, Chester

Heath House, 179 Christleton Road, Chester

Heath House is a grade II listed building arranged on a central hallway plan with two rooms to the front and two rooms to the rear on each floor; the rear rooms on the ground floor serve as service spaces.

The south-facing front elevation is three bays wide with a simple eaves cornice. The central ground-floor doorway is slightly raised and has a painted stone surround incorporating a reeded keystone and imposts, with a cast-iron bell pull. The door itself is six-panelled with flush and raised panels, topped by a batwing fanlight. An unusual painted cast-iron knocker in the form of a hand clasping a wreath decorated with a lion's head adorns the door. The first-floor centre window is a modern replacement six-over-six sash. Both outer bays contain eight-over-eight sash windows to each floor, and a small basement window exists to the left bay. All windows retain their original painted brick-wedge lintels and painted stone sills. The building retains its original cast-iron rainwater goods throughout.

Attached to the west end of the front elevation is a high brick wall with large timber double doors and two small window openings, one of which has been blocked. Behind this wall and attached to the ground-floor west elevation is an original single-storey former stable block, a later timber lean-to, and two yard areas with brick and stone floors; one yard has been roofed to create a garage area. The first-floor left of the west elevation contains an eight-over-eight sash window. The east-side elevation has a six-over-six sash window to the far right on each floor.

The interior retains extensive original features throughout. Stone, tile and board floors survive, though some are hidden under later coverings. The main hallway has a stone floor and contains two servant's bells, one of which retains its cable connected to the front door bell pull and remains in working order; the other originally served the front right reception room but the cable has been removed. The main dog-leg stair is positioned to the rear of the hallway and features slender stick balusters, a wreathed mahogany handrail, an open string with carved brackets, and a curtail step.

The principal ground-floor reception rooms feature plain moulded cornicing and picture rails. Both rooms retain original features including marble and timber fireplaces with cast-iron grates, some with later tiled inserts, hearths and cheeks. The front right reception room has a built-in cupboard and six-panel doors with moulded architraves incorporating lion's head bosses. Arched display alcoves and built-in cupboards survive throughout, along with some window shutters.

The service room to the rear right of the ground floor contains a suspended drying rack, built-in cupboards, and a large cast-iron range with a glazed tile surround. A long, narrow room has been inserted to the western side of the half-landing level and contains an early indoor flush toilet with a replaced mid-to-late 20th-century high-level cistern. Beneath the main stair, a stone stair leads down into the basement, which occupies the western side of the building. The basement has a brick floor, whitewashed walls, and a fireplace opening with a cast-iron grate; the fireplace's timber surround with integral shelving has been relocated to another wall.

The first-floor rooms are plainer but retain original features including fireplaces, window surrounds, and built-in cupboards. A small bathroom has been inserted at the south end of the first-floor landing. Six-panel doors with moulded architraves survive throughout the interior.