Building record 10478/1 - Chester Rows: 17 Watergate Street

No 17 Watergate Street is a stone undercroft, currently in use as a shop, of a probable medieval date, believed to be approximately 14th century. The front facade of the building is largely 17th century with later alterations. The undercroft has boarded double doors to the left giving access to the passage. Although samples were taken for scientific analysis, they failed to provide sufficient evidence to date the undercroft. The medieval street frontage is indicated by a moulded timber beam set back some 1.4m south of the present street frontage. Evidence of a close studded, timber framed facade was also noted during the survey. The undercroft appears to be 5 bays deep, with evidence of the first two trusses dividing the bays still visible although the southern, rear, bay is obscured by a brick barrel vault of probable 19th century date. The coursed sandstone walls appear well made, particularly along the western wall, however, there is also evidence of destruction of the walls to the rear of the undercroft. A later extension approximately 6.6m in length and of coursed sandstone was also noted but was not dated. The traditional arrangement on the Rows consisted of a single storey stone undercroft at street level and a Row level building over it. Above the undercroft, the Row level building was more often timber built and consisted of a 'Row' level storey incorporating the Row walkway or stallboard extending over the frontage of the undercroft (this allowed extra head room for the undercroft and additional space for traders on the stallboards). The Row walkway was approximately 4-6m in width and incorporated the path and the stallboards themselves. The Row level storey formed the medieval shop opening onto the Row walkway. Due to differences in ground level between the front and back of the plots, the undercroft is at street level at the front and the Row level storey at ground level to the rear. The Row building also often included at least one further storey above it that extended forward again over the Row walkway. The upper floors were private, domestic quarters. The Rows are believed to be of medieval origin, dating at least to the 13th century followed by a gradual evolution of built form over a period of perhaps 100 years to create the present elements of undercroft, Row walkway and Row building. Survival of the built form of the Rows varies considerably and different elements of a single building can vary enormously in date from the 13th century through to the 20th century.