Site Event/Activity record ECH5929 - Bluecoat Hospital School, Chester: Historic Building Appraisal & Statement of Significance

Historic Building appraisal and statement of significance for the Bluecoat Hospital, Chester in advance of preparing drawings for listed building consent for alterations to improve access. Site assessment and inspection of buildings including all roof spaces and voids, areas of floorboards removed to inspect critical voids and archival research. Time line of site's use and current building included. Though known as Bluecoat hospital this refers to an earlier use of the site as St Johns hospital and has nothing to do with the function of the buildings that stand on the site and did so from 1717. The historic use of the building as an "infirmary" was short lived (1755-61), occupied only a small part of the building and is coincidental to the name, and should not be confused with the original purpose of the building. The outstanding special interest of the building lies in its historical uses, its rarity as a building type and its monumental symmetrical arrangement. The internal plan arrangement, where it survives, incorporates an amalgamation of two phases and some rooms retain high significance. However, a large number of the spaces have been so altered during the 20th century that they are of low value. Historic Building appraisal and statement of sigificance. Bluecoat Hospital School dates from the early 18th century. Partial reconstruction and extension took place in 1854 by John Morris Architect. (1)