Building record 10557/1 - Chester Rows : 22-26 Bridge Street

<1> Chester Archaeology, 1985-1990, Chester Rows Research Project Archive, CHER 10557 (Paper Archive). SCH6789.

No 22 Bridge Street and No 20-24 Bridge Street Row form a single building known as the Dutch Houses. Despite extensive renovation during the 1970s during which a steel frame was inserted into the main part of the house, the Dutch houses contain many original elements of the predominately late 17th century construction.

The undercroft level consists of a modern street frontage, that of No 22 is late 20th century with a recessed door to the south, No 24 is c.1900 with deeply recessed door to the south and that of No 26 is late 20th century with recessed door to the north. The interior is entirely modern clad, however, some 17th century joists remain visible at No 24.

<2> Brown. A. (ed), 1999, The Rows of Chester: The Chester Rows Research Project (Book). SCH6790.

<3> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

<4> L - P Archaeology, 2010, Historic building assessment of 22 Bridge Street, Chester, R3044 (Client Report). SCH5410.

<5> Henderson Heritage, 2023, Heritage Impact Assessment: No. 22 Bridge Street, and Commonhall Social, Commonhall Street, Chester, R4766 (Client Report). SCH9600.

No. 22 Bridge Street forms part of The Dutch Houses, which are No. 22, 24, 26 Bridge Street, and No’s 20 – 24 Bridge Street Row. It was probably built as one large townhouse in the 17th century but has been subdivided several times since. It now forms three townhouses and shops. There is a 19th century warehouse to the rear, which interconnects No. 22 Bridge Street with the rear yard of Commonhall Social. It is a Grade II listed building.

The significance of No. 22 Bridge Street lies in the strong architectural vocabulary as part of The Dutch Houses, expressed in the dominant projecting bay windows to second and third floor, the roof gables, and clearly articulated window detail to Bridge Street, with surviving 17th century fabric, and built within the medieval rows structure. Its special architectural and historic interest has some features of interest internally but most of its interest is largely confined to the exterior, because of alteration in the 1970’s that stripped out many features of importance. Nonetheless, the building makes an important contribution to this part of Chester City Conservation Area. It has a strong relationship and context to the wider townscape, complementing more exuberant frontages nearby and clearly articulated. It forms part of the street scene in Bridge Street that contributes to group value, views, and vistas; and its historical and aesthetic value, which helps define its sense of place.