Building record 10557/2 - Chester Rows : 20-24 Bridge Street Row The Dutch Houses

No 22- 26 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 front façade of No 20-24 consists of three large bays with entirely modern shop frontages dating to the 1970s renovation. The first floor town house has four mullion and transom windows inserted in the 1970s replacing earlier 19th century sash windows. Each bay of the three properties is defined by a wooden twisted half column with Doric capitals – all of which are 1970s copies – with white rendered walling. The second floor is similarly 1970s in origin with three large mullion and transom windows again replacing earlier sash windows. The third floor is also the attic level with individual gable ends to each property, each with further mullion and transom windows of a 1970s date.

The rear façade has two gable ends, the north being that of No 20 whilst the south incorporates the remaining two properties. The rear façade of No 20 is largely obscured by a 19th century warehouse with only the gable end still visible. This, however, appears to be of true 17th century character. The rear façade of the remaining two properties include a 19th century sash window to the north of the Row level property and a late 18th century window to the south. The upper floors both contain late 18th century sash windows on each floor for each property.

The interior of all three Row level properties is almost entirely modern clad, however, some re-used 17th century joists were visible at No 22 and some in situ joists at No 24.

The interior of the first floor level at No 20 is primarily modern with the exception of a mid 17th century fireplace in the north wall and chamfered stone columns to the north and south that appear to be later inserts. The second floor is entirely modern but in the third floor the late 17th century roof truss remains in situ. The interior of No 22 and 24 is again largely 1970s with few traces of the original construction – a single 17th century timber bridging joist is recorded in the rear wall, and two late 17th century fireplaces in the south wall and in the rear room where several contemporary ceiling beams also survive. At second floor level there is again a late 17th century fireplace. The staircase at the south end of the property also appears to be of an early 18th century date. In the third floor the late 17th century roof truss remains in situ.

The Row walkway consists of a row walk approximately 3.3m wide and a stallboard 1.45m wide. The upper floors are supported on heavy chamfered sandstone piers with a 19th century ironwork railing at the Row front. (1)

Inspection and structural survey carried out in 1971 prior to restoration of the buildings.(4)

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

<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> Biggins Sargent Partnership, 1971, Survey Report of The Dutch Houses, Chester (Unpublished Report). SCH7815.