Number 5, 7 And 9 Street

These three properties were built in 1900 as part of the reconstruction of Shoemakers' Row (which ran from 3 to 31 Northgate Street) between 1897 and 1909. They replaced three medieval plots on the west side of Northgate Street. The redevelopment was driven by concerns over insanitary conditions in the congested Northgate area and reflected a renewed interest in vernacular architecture. It formed part of a municipal road widening project undertaken at the end of the 19th century.

The buildings were designed by John Douglas, the architect and owner of the properties, in the Vernacular Revival style. Douglas (1830–1911) was a prolific regional architect known for his 'Old English' style of half-timbered domestic work. He designed several other buildings within the Shoemakers' Row redevelopment. Together with 11–31 Northgate Street (odd numbers), these three properties form a group of Vernacular Revival buildings that also includes shops by Harry Beswick, County Architect for Chester from 1895 to 1926, and James Strong. Number 9 was partially rebuilt in 1914 following fire damage and retains evidence of its earlier undercroft. The building is now part of a larger shop extending into 11 to 13 Northgate Street.

The construction comprises three street-level shops with accommodation above. It is timber-framed with plaster panels and has a slate roof with gables to the street. The building is two storeys with cellars and is built in late 16th-century style.

The street level features an arcade of six bays, raised two steps above pavement level, with moulded timber posts set on shaped sandstone plinths and three-centred timber arches with richly-carved spandrels and central keys. The shopfronts are modern. Above the arcade is a bressumer carved with a running pattern dated 1900.

The upper storey has shaped plaster panels beneath two canted oriel windows of five lights to each shop, with shaped mullions and moulded transoms. Each window is carried on four brackets set on a carved panel and features leaded glazing with shaped panes and ogee heads to the upper lights, surmounted by richly-carved panels. Between the two oriels of each shop is a niche containing a carved figure: Justitia on number 5, St Crispin on number 7, and Hugh Lupus on number 9.

The three jettied gables have carved bressumers carried on shaped brackets, with shaped panels, carved bargeboards and ornate finials. The rear of the buildings is concealed.

Numbers 5 and 7 have cellars that have succeeded the former undercrofts. Number 9 contains brickwork evidence of a partly medieval undercroft.