Number 14 Street Numbers 12 And 12A Row

This building developed from the medieval market stalls or 'selds' that were recorded in this part of Bridge Street by the 14th century. The shallow timber-framed structure at Row level and above dates to the 17th century, as established by the Chester Rows Research project through analysis of the carved bressumer over the Row front and the roof structure. Late 19th-century photographs show the upper storeys with what was probably a newly planted timber-frame with rendered panels in a Vernacular Revival style, popular in Chester during the mid- to late 19th century. At that period the building had a canted central-bay shopfront at street level. This was replaced in the late 20th century, and the shopfront was occupied by a building society as of 2022. The Row, upper storeys and a cottage to the rear were converted to housing in 1997.

The building is constructed of sandstone, timber framing (now rendered) and brick, with a grey slate roof running at right-angles to the street.

Exterior

The building is four storeys tall, including the undercroft and Row levels. The undercroft has a late 20th-century shopfront at street level, flanked by fluted pilasters from an earlier shopfront.

At Row level, there is an iron balustrade to the Row front with three rails and triple spearheads, and a gently sloping stallboard measuring approximately 3 metres from front to back. The side walls are of brick. A north post at the rear of the stallboard has shaped brackets to the main beam and beams over the stallboard and Row walkway. The joists above the Row are exposed. The back wall to the Row has a shopfront of approximately 1900 date, featuring a four-panel door with a two-pane sash window above a raised panel on each side, all in a case with a moulded architrave and timber-framed plaster panels. A framed and boarded rear-passage door to the south sits in a heavy frame with an architrave.

The upper storeys have a carved fascia above the Row opening and display a rendered timber-frame. The third storey has three flush sash windows with six over six panes; the glazing bars had previously been removed from the lower leaves. The fourth storey has one flush six over six-pane sash window, partly set within the gable. The gable has plain renewed bargeboards and a finial.

The rear elevation has a door from the passage and a pair of margined flush 12-pane sashes in a single opening. The upper storey has two eight-pane sashes with one glazing bar removed and a flush verge. A former cottage of 19th-century date stands at the rear of the building.

Interior

Access to the undercroft is not normally practical, but it was opened in early 1990 for structural inspection. It is reported to have approximately 4 feet 6 inches headroom beneath the present street-level floor, with a stone flag floor and squared rubble sandstone walls. It is believed to project beneath the pavement and to extend approximately 30 feet under the building. The rear room at street level contains what is believed to be medieval squared rubble sandstone walling with brick walling above and a blocked opening in the north wall. All features further forward are covered. Two probable 17th-century beams are now concealed. The rear room partly extends behind number 16 Bridge Street.

At Row level, all features are clad. The third storey contains a large parlour, partly over the Row, with joists running north–south, probably of 17th-century date. There are 19th-century features including a corner fireplace. The rear room is clad. The fourth storey retains a 17th-century roof structure, which is partly visible, alongside some 19th-century features.