Building record 10566/1 - Chester Rows : 44 Bridge Street

No 44 Bridge Street consists of a wide frontage stone undercroft with iron frame, currently in use as a commercial property, of a late 19th century date with later 20th century alterations. It was formerly part of the Owen Owen store on Bridge Street with the adjacent properties (No 44-50 Bridge Street). The front facade of the undercroft is modern, consisting of three large plate glass windows between end stone piers and a pair of cast iron columns of a late 19th century date. At the time of survey, there was no front access in this property. The interior was largely modern but with several plain cast iron columns and an iron joist frame of 19th century date. The undercroft has since been converted to a single property and is in use as a bar/restaurant. 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.