The Old House

CHESTER CITY (IM)

SJ4066SE WHITE FRIARS 595-1/4/446 (South side) 28/07/55 No.1 The Old House

GV II

Town house. Probably late medieval with C14 cellar; refurbished 1658 and 1980s. Sandstone, timber framing with plaster panels, brown brick; grey slate roof with 2 front gables, one east gable and one rear gable. EXTERIOR: cellar, 2 storeys and cockloft. The front has squared sandstone plinth, partly rendered. Repaired small framing to the first storey has one intermediate rail; replaced door of 6 fielded panels with inserted leaded overlight; a renewed 3-light leaded casement to each side of door stands proud of wall-face on shaped brackets. The second storey is boldly jettied on 3 shaped brackets, the central bracket a jetty-beam with dentils and strapwork on its west face; the bressumer has strapwork and M:R.I on its face; a row of 14 narrow panels, the eastern 8 pargeted with heraldic devices; 15 carved consoles carry a continuous mullioned and transomed casement of 14 leaded lights; dentils to sill, principal mullions and top rail. The 2 front gables are rendered; that to east retains curlicue pargeting and is dated 1658, that to west has a plain repaired face dated 1987; replaced bargeboards; two C17 drop finials; replaced apex finials. The east side, 6 panels wide, has sole-plate on sandstone plinth, one intermediate rail to the first storey, a cambered second-storey floor-beam, storey-height large panels, a slightly jettied tie-beam and an end-gable with simple queen-post truss. The short rear wing, restored late C20, has a full-width rear gable with a floorband and replaced sashes. INTERIOR: the cellar has sandstone steps with winders, squared sandstone rubble walls, some flat oak joists and a former opening to the street, now blocked. The first storey has a replaced flag floor, wall-framing exposed, 2 cross-beams with chamfers stopped at east end, oak joists and a brick corner fireplace, south-east. The kitchen has 2 chamfered beams and replaced joists. The oak newel stair has top winders and shaped splat balusters to landing. The east bedroom has a Tudor-arched stone fireplace with heraldic carving in relief on the overmantel; the east wall has large framing of heavy timbers; the south wall timbers are of smaller scantling; the framing in the west bedroom includes a jowled corner-post and a windbrace.

Listing NGR: SJ4052466093