1 Bridge Street, Chester
Encyclopedia
1 Bridge Street, Chester, is at the junction of Bridge Street and Eastgate Street at Chester Cross
in the centre of the city of Chester
, Cheshire
, England. Its architecture is that of the black-and-white revival, it incorporates part of the Chester Rows
, and has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building. Because of its prominent position and its black-and-white architecture, it has been described as an "iconic" building.
, built in 1888, and is said to have been built for 1st Duke of Westminster
, although by 1889 it was owned by Chester City Council. It was built on the site of an earlier timber-framed
building. The building is now occupied by shops. The citation in Heritage Gateway describes the building as "the best liked of T. M. Lockwood's buildings in Chester, well executed in his most flamboyant style".
, whose floor is below street level, and an attic. Its architectural style is black-and-white revival. It extends for one bay down Bridge Street and for one bay along Eastgate Street. At its corner is a flight of seven steps leading from the street to the row level above which is an octagonal turret
. Above the steps is a canted
, mullion
ed and transom
ed, oriel window
. Over this are three pargetted
panels under a four-light canted casement window
. The roof is curved and surmounted by a weather vane
.
On each side of the steps at street level are modern shop fronts. Above these, at the front of the Rows, are balustrades
behind which are sloping stallboards, then the walkway and shop fronts. On Bridge Street at the third storey level are decorative panels and a three-light window. Above this is a gable
d dormer
with more panels and another three-light window. On Eastgate Street at the third storey is a six-light window with panels above and below. There is again a dormer with panels, one of which includes the arms
of the Grosvenor
family.
Chester Cross (junction)
Chester Cross is a junction of streets at the centre of the city of Chester, Cheshire, England .The streets meeting at the junction are Watergate Street, Eastgate Street, Bridge Street and Northgate Street. The junction consists of a staggered crossroads, with Watergate Street in continuity with...
in the centre of the city of Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England. Its architecture is that of the black-and-white revival, it incorporates part of the Chester Rows
Chester Rows
Chester Rows consist of covered walkways at the first floor behind which are entrances to shops and other premises. At street level is another set of shops and other premises, many of which are entered by going down a few steps...
, and has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building. Because of its prominent position and its black-and-white architecture, it has been described as an "iconic" building.
History
The building was designed by Thomas LockwoodThomas Lockwood
Thomas Meakin Lockwood was an English architect whose main works are in Chester, Cheshire, England. Lockwood, together with Thomas Penson and John Douglas, were the architects mainly responsible for the black-and-white revival buildings in the city centre. Lockwood designed a number of buildings...
, built in 1888, and is said to have been built for 1st Duke of Westminster
Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster
Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster KG, PC, JP , styled Viscount Belgrave between 1831 and 1845 and Earl Grosvenor between 1845 and 1869 and known as the 3rd Marquess of Westminster between 1869 and 1874, was an English landowner, politician and racehorse owner.He inherited the estate of...
, although by 1889 it was owned by Chester City Council. It was built on the site of an earlier timber-framed
Timber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
building. The building is now occupied by shops. The citation in Heritage Gateway describes the building as "the best liked of T. M. Lockwood's buildings in Chester, well executed in his most flamboyant style".
Architecture
The building is in four storeys, including an undercroftUndercroft
An undercroft is traditionally a cellar or storage room, often brick-lined and vaulted, and used for storage in buildings since medieval times. In modern usage, an undercroft is generally a ground area which is relatively open to the sides, but covered by the building above.- History :While some...
, whose floor is below street level, and an attic. Its architectural style is black-and-white revival. It extends for one bay down Bridge Street and for one bay along Eastgate Street. At its corner is a flight of seven steps leading from the street to the row level above which is an octagonal turret
Turret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
. Above the steps is a canted
Cant (architecture)
Cant is the architectural term describing part, or segment, of a facade which is at an angle to another part of the same facade. The angle breaking the facade is less than a right angle thus enabling a canted facade to be viewed as, and remain, one composition.Canted facades are a typical of, but...
, mullion
Mullion
A mullion is a vertical structural element which divides adjacent window units. The primary purpose of the mullion is as a structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Its secondary purpose may be as a rigid support to the glazing of the window...
ed and transom
Transom
Transom may refer to:* Transom , a bar of wood or stone across the top of a door or window* Transom , one of the beams running athwart the ship's hull at the fashion timbers or the surface that forms the flat back panel of a stern of a vessel* Operation Transom, a major bombing raid* Transom knot,...
ed, oriel window
Oriel window
Oriel windows are a form of bay window commonly found in Gothic architecture, which project from the main wall of the building but do not reach to the ground. Corbels or brackets are often used to support this kind of window. They are seen in combination with the Tudor arch. This type of window was...
. Over this are three pargetted
Pargeting
Pargeting is a decorative plastering applied to building walls.Pargeting derives from the word 'parget', a Middle English term that is probably derived from the Old French 'pargeter' / 'parjeter', to throw about, or 'porgeter', to roughcast a wall...
panels under a four-light canted casement window
Casement window
A casement window is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges. Casement windows are hinged at the side. A casement window (or casement) is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges. Casement windows are hinged at the side. A casement window (or casement) is a...
. The roof is curved and surmounted by a weather vane
Weather vane
A weather vane is an instrument for showing the direction of the wind. They are typically used as an architectural ornament to the highest point of a building....
.
On each side of the steps at street level are modern shop fronts. Above these, at the front of the Rows, are balustrades
Baluster
A baluster is a moulded shaft, square or of lathe-turned form, one of various forms of spindle in woodwork, made of stone or wood and sometimes of metal, standing on a unifying footing, and supporting the coping of a parapet or the handrail of a staircase. Multiplied in this way, they form a...
behind which are sloping stallboards, then the walkway and shop fronts. On Bridge Street at the third storey level are decorative panels and a three-light window. Above this is a gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d dormer
Dormer
A dormer is a structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloping roof surface. Dormers are used, either in original construction or as later additions, to create usable space in the roof of a building by adding headroom and usually also by enabling addition of windows.Often...
with more panels and another three-light window. On Eastgate Street at the third storey is a six-light window with panels above and below. There is again a dormer with panels, one of which includes the arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of the Grosvenor
Duke of Westminster
The title Duke of Westminster was created by Queen Victoria in 1874 and bestowed upon Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster. The current holder of the title is Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster....
family.