TUDOR HOUSE

Overview

Location

Details

CHESTER CITY (IM)

SJ4066SE LOWER BRIDGE STREET 595-1/4/253 (East side) 28/07/55 Nos.29 AND 31 Tudor House (Formerly Listed as: LOWER BRIDGE STREET (East side) Nos.29 AND 31)

GV II*

Undercroft and town house, now shop and town house. Probably 1603 extended to rear early-mid C17 and altered in detail C18 and later. Sandstone, brick and timber framing with plaster panels; grey slate roof with ridge at right angle to front. EXTERIOR: 4 storeys plus cellar. The lower 2 storeys are brick to the front, but with an oak corner-post. The shopfront of painted brick has an oak door in Tudor-arched case with a C19 2-pane shop window to each side with head-boards inscribed TUDOR: HOUSE. Erroneous date-plaque "1503" above the door. The second storey has flush sashes, one of 12 panes, north, and 2 of 16 panes. Jetty-beam with strapwork-carved fascia on 4 brackets, one renewed; central beam-end. The third storey has two 3-light mullioned and transomed leaded casements set proud of the wall-face; 3 small panels to each window and a narrow panel between them; the 2-panel width with 2 intermediate rails between windows and corners have S-shaped braces in a centralised pattern. Fourth storey jetty similar to third storey; the 3-light mullioned leaded casement has 4 arched and decorated panels beneath and 2 rows of 4 panels with S-shaped braces to each side. The jettied small-framed gable has convex-lozenge and curved braces above a dentilled bressumer on shaped end-brackets; replaced bargeboards. The south side, Hawarden Castle Entry, slopes up sharply; the lower part of the wall, probably early C17 workmanship, is sandstone rubble. Posts survive in the brick walling of the second storey; the lower rear wing is framed independently; small framing to third and fourth storeys; a blocked casement with closely-spaced lozenge-section mullions by the front corner of the 4th storey. The rear gable of the main block is pebbledashed; the rear of the rear wing small-framed. A south lateral chimney. The timber frame of the south side was reconstructed 1973-4. INTERIOR: the cellar, in east part of south bay, is rock-cut with sump in middle, stone steps south west and earlier steps to blocked entrance, west; brick barrel-vault, C18. The



undercroft has a central wall, front to back, with openings. The north bay has a cross-beam 270mm x 270mm and a damaged cross-beam 280mm by 260mm; joists. The south bay has beams, joists and replaced stair; replaced fireplace against south wall; the west beam of the fourth bay east is probably continuous with the corresponding beam, 280mm by 260mm, in the north bay. The storey is much repaired, but not altered in plan. The Row was enclosed 1728 by Roger Ormes, now forming 2 rooms. The north room is plastered. The south room has dado rail and plain oak joists from front to back; door and window positions in framed east wall show pattern before Row enclosed, now giving borrowed light through leaded panes to room behind, which has a stop-chamfered beam from front to back, a stop-chamfered post and small-panelling to north wall. The back room has an open fireplace with carved fascia brought in, 6-panel oak doors of C17 type and a chamfered beam from front to back, stopped to front. Balusters to the stair are altered, but barleysugar balusters to the landing are visible also from undercroft. The stair to the third storey in a closed well has shaped splat balusters to the landing. The good front chamber has full small-panelling of oak, oak embrasure-benches, a 3-panel plaster ceiling divided by 2 cross-beams, each panel having cornice, 3 varied plaster roses, and small uniform corner-decorations; a post supports the centre of the rear cross-beam; a large brick fireplace with an oak Corinthian pilaster to each side. Behind the chamber a small bedroom with timber-framed walls has wattle-and-daub; a rebuilt brick fireplace in the south-west corner and a reeded ceiling cornice; leaded casement. The back room has some timber framing visible. The oak stair to the fourth storey, probably re-positioned, has shaped splat baluster. The roof-structure of the rear room of the third storey, with independent front truss, shows clearly that the rear wing was added. The fourth storey has 2 rooms. The front room displays the gable truss and an inner truss against it. The central truss has 5 struts to the principal rafters; the east truss has a central post and 2 curved struts; windbraced trenched purlins. Dendro-dating of the timbers has confirmed the early C17 dating. (Chester Rows Research Project: Grenville J: Lower Bridge Street, East: 1988-).



Listing NGR: SJ4061466014

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

470296

Legacy System:

LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.