Building record 10584/1 - Chester Rows : 37-39 Bridge Street

No 37-39 Bridge Street consists of a single stone undercroft, now subdivided, of a probable medieval date. The front facade consists of two narrow frontages both of a late 20th century date. The interior of No 37 is also entirely modern clad with no visible evidence of earlier features. The division of the two undercrofts is unequal with No 37 carved out of the front north section, leaving No 39 as an ‘L’ shape. Evidence of medieval stone walls are present in the east and north walls at No 39 at both the present street and cellar levels suggesting the present 19th century floor has vertically subdivided a rather taller medieval undercroft. Of particular interest is a rebated doorway in the east wall that also cuts the bedrock beyond and reveals a Roman hypocaust beyond. Although of medieval origin, there is little evidence to indicate its purpose. 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.