Building record 10658 - Bishop's House, 1 Abbey Street

The Bishop's House (1 Abbey Square) was previously the site of the Chapel of St Thomas the Apostle (CHER 10640/10), and later become the Deanery (CHER 10641/3). For much of the post medieval period, parts of the former medieval chapel and the house that succeeded it, served as the Deanery for the Cathedral (7). The Deanery was partially demolished in 1791, and the ‘new mansion’ (CHER 10658) was built on the site. In 1791, it is recorded that ‘the gothic structure of St Thomas’ Chapel’, which had been the residence of Dean Smith, had been taken down, and the site was to become the location of ‘a spacious mansion’ for Dean Cotton (7). Cotton became Dean in 1787, so this closely dates the demolition of the chapel and the construction of the original elements of the present house. The demolition of the former chapel meant the removal of its upper parts; the lower parts, particularly the north wall, were incorporated into the new building. Please see the linked listed building description for present structural detail (8).

<1> Bennett. J.H.E., 1948, The Old Bishop's Palace, Chester, Bennett J H E 1948 37/69-106 (Article in Journal). SCH5773.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ46NW34/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

<3> Harris, B.E., 1979, Bartholomew City Guides - Chester, /67 (Book). SCH394.

<4> Morris, Rupert H (Rev.), 1894, Chester in the Plantagenet & Tudor Reigns, /167 (Book). SCH946.

<5> Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Revised List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, City of Chester Intra Mural 1998/ 20 (Unpublished Report). SCH4570.

<6> Lewis C.P & Thacker A.T. (eds), 2005, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume Vii, The City of Chester - The City of Chester, Culture, Buildings, Institutions (Book). SCH6522.

<7> Chester Archaeology, 1998, The Bishop's House, 1 Abbey Street, Chester: Archaeological Watching Brief, R2694 (Client Report). SCH4802.

<8> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 470019 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.