Cowper House, Chester

Cowper House, located on Bridge Street in Chester, is a remarkable example of historic English architecture, blending medieval and post-medieval styles. This former townhouse is a Grade I listed building, recognized for its historical significance and architectural beauty. It incorporates a section of the iconic Chester Rows, unique medieval walkways characteristic of the city.

The house was constructed in 1664, following the devastation of the English Civil War, on top of undercrofts dating back to 1350–1375 or possibly earlier. These undercrofts reflect the medieval roots of the site, with the front undercroft thought to predate the rear one. Thomas Cowper, the house's namesake, was the mayor of Chester in 1641–42 and a Royalist during the Civil War. His initials, "•T•C•1664," are carved into the bressummer of the building, highlighting his role in its creation.

The building combines sandstone, brick, timber framing, and plaster panels, topped by a grey slate roof. It has four stories with a street-facing gable. The ground floor features a modern shop and stone steps to the Row level, which includes another shop front, a walkway, and a balustrade. The richly decorated upper stories showcase timber-framed panels, carved fascias, a 14-light window on the third story supported by corbels, and a jettied top story with intricate carvings, a ten-light window, and decorative bargeboard with a finial.

Beneath the house, undercrofts hint at its medieval roots. The front undercroft, 16 meters long, descends two steps from the street, while six more steps lead to the 13-meter-long rib-vaulted rear undercroft with six bays and a three-light window. A stone staircase in the fifth bay enhances its historic appeal. Upstairs, a sandstone fireplace inscribed "TC 1661" with a blank shield adds another touch of history.

Cowper House exemplifies the evolution of Chester's architectural heritage, combining medieval craftsmanship with 17th-century innovation, and remains a treasured landmark in the city.