Monument record 10071 - Medieval Common Hall and the Chapel of St Ursula's

<1> 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.

The medieval common hall - where the freemen of the city met – was probably located in Commonhall Street from the mid 13th century onwards. It is believed that the first hall was built as early as 1250 although the first documentary reference dates only to 1337. Commonhall Street itself as well as Pierpoint Lane were probably both used as the main approaches to the building.

Documentary references note that it was a meeting place for the guild merchants as well as serving as the principal civic court – the portmote. Assizes were also set there in the 14th century. In the later 14th century there is reference to civic assemblies held there and later civil elections in the early 16th century when it was also described as the ‘common hall of pleas’. Contemporary descriptions the 16th century building suggest it was a modest two storey hall building with the main chamber on the upper floor.

In 1510 it was donated to the foundation of the fraternity and hospital of St Ursula’s who also held the adjacent almshouses as a hospital (CHER 10037). The Common Hall itself appears to have been located some distance back from the main road, possibly with the newly erected almshouses in front. In 1547 when St Ursula’s was dissolved it became the meeting house of the Smith’s and Cutler’s company with whom it remained until 1778.

Between 1768 and 1776 it served as an early meeting house for the Independent congregation before they moved to Queen Street (CHER 10054).

In 1806 it was converted into a private dwelling house before it was finally demolished in 1874.
The common hall was transferred to the former chapel of St Nicholas in the abbey precinct in the later 16th century which was substantially altered to make it fit for purpose.

<2> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 2003, The Past Uncovered (Newsletter). SCH6034.

It has been suggested that the remains of the Common Hall is still present at the site, incorporated into the modern warehouse currently occupying the area. The west plinth wall of the warehouse appears substantially different to that of the main fabric of the building and is thought to be the surviving remains of the old Hall.

<3> Douglas J, 1872-5, The Abbey Square Sketch Book, 1/No.41 1872 (Book). SCH3014.

<4> Morris, Rupert H (Rev.), 1894, Chester in the Plantagenet & Tudor Reigns, /202-203 (Book). SCH946.

<5> Gastrell F, 1845-1850, Notitia Cestriensis, or historical notices of the diocese of Chester, Gastrell F 1845/123-124 (Article in Journal). SCH2290.

<6> Bennett. J.H.E., 1938, The Hospital and Chantry of St Ursula the Virgin of Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5697.

<7> Simpson F, 1914, The City Gilds of Chester: The Smiths, Cutlers and Plumber’s Company (Article in Journal). SCH5651.