Building record 10485/2 - Chester Rows: 51-53 Watergate Street Row Bishop Lloyd's Palace

No 51-53 Watergate Street Row currently comprise a single property known as Bishop Lloyd’s Palace. Originally two plots with separate tenements of different construction, they were surveyed together during the Chester Rows Research Project. No 51-53 Watergate Street Row consists of two timber framed town houses of a 17th century date. Of the two properties, No 51 is believed to be earlier following the identification of a late medieval timber frame in the adjacent property (No 55 Watergate Street Row) of an identical style to that at No 51. Both properties were heavily restored in the 1890s by T.M. Lockwood, in particular, altering the facade and possibly combining the two properties. No 51 Row consists of an early 17th century timber framed building heavily restored in the late 19th century. The railings at Row level are 19th century as are the timber piers with brackets that support the upper floors. The upper floors are timber framed with plaster panels, at first floor level the facade is largely taken up by 19th century casement windows while the gable end has squared timber framing, a central window. The bargeboarding and finial on the gable end are also likely 19th century. The rear facade of No 51 was also surveyed with a single timber lintel over a ground floor window that may be the remains of a more substantial element of timber framing. A large staircase window of 18th century date is also recorded. No 53 Row consists of a 17th century timber framed three storey building including the attic level. Again there are significant 19th century alterations with a continuation of the 19th century railings and timber piers and the first floor casement windows. Unlike No 51, however, there are significant decorative features present in this facade with masks carved into the tops of the central timber piers on the Row front. Above this, the first floor level has a line of six carved friezes with two further painted friezes that may be original. A slight jetty above is supported by a series of masked corbels that may also be original. The gable end is also highly decorative with a series of richly carved panels with heraldic beasts. At Row level, the shop frontages of both properties are modern, at No 51 the interior has been completely covered by modern plaster and shop fittings. Access to the upper floors is also provided at this level by a modern doorway set back to the right of No 51. The interior of No 53 survives to a better extent and can be seen to be a four bay structure 8.6m in length although the cross beams have been boxed in. Traces of a former fireplace, of a possible 17th century date was also recorded, now covered by late 17th century panelling. The interior of the first floor level of No 51 consists of a large room at the front of the property with panelled walls and a fireplace of a probable 17th century date that appears to be a later insert. The ceiling is highly decorative with elaborate plasterwork based on ovals, squares and diamonds formed by narrow moulded ribs. The geometric style is reminiscent of an early 17th century date while certain sections (such as the dome area over the fireplace) are probably later. The rear of the first floor has been somewhat altered from its original plan with modern internal divisions to create an office and facilities as well as the insertion of a large mid 18th century staircase against the rear wall of the building. The interior of the first floor level at No 53 consists of a second large reception room, albeit somewhat smaller than that in No 51. It too contains a fireplace and plasterwork of a 17th century date. The fireplace appears to be a 17th century example of Renaissance Classicism that was placed adjacent to an earlier chimney piece. The plasterwork on the ceiling is rather different to that of No 51, forming discrete patterns of an early 17th century date. The rear of this floor was not inspected closely. The attic level was not inspected. 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.