Building record 10577/1 - Chester Rows : 15 Bridge Street

No 15 Bridge Street consists of two stone undercrofts, currently in use as a single commercial property, of probable medieval origin. The southern boundary of the property is not original, however, at some point following its initial construction the boundary was extended southwards to incorporate the flight of steps. The front facade of the undercroft level is modern with a door at the south and the flight of steps south of that. The interior has modern clad walls, however, a pair of two ordered chamfered pointed arches on a north south alignment of a mid 14th century date remain visible along with the joists they supported. 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.