St Ursula's, Chester

Sitting on the south side of Watergate Street, at number 37, almost opposite Crook Street, is St Ursula's. The building, very easy to find, incorporates a section of famous Chester Rows and stands four storeys high.

Built in sandstone at the street and Row levels, it has a timber-framed section above, which makes it fitting in well with Chester's signature black-and-white architecture. Following the alterations made in the 16th or 17th centuries, the building was largely remodeled above the Row level in the late 19th century, and then further modified in the 20th century.

St Ursula's undercroft has 5½ bays and it is considered that its walls date from the late 12th century, somewhere between about 1180 and 1280 – the earliest yet structure to have been dated in the Rows. It is mainly for this undercroft, they say, that the building has been listed by The English Heritage Trust. Presently, the undercroft is used as a storeroom for the neighbouring toy shop.

Although there were 16th-century almshouses in Chester dedicated to St Ursula, they were not at this location, so it is unclear why this stone shop front has her name carved into it. Still, the beautiful building adds a great deal to the joy of walking down Watergate Street, and is most definitely well worth checking out if you're in the area or planning a trip to Chester.