1 Bridge Street, Chester

1 Bridge Street, Chester is a timber-framed retail building at Chester Cross featuring an octagonal turret and ornate window details. The structure spans two levels along Bridge Street and Eastgate Street, with decorative panels and mullioned windows throughout.

Architect Thomas Meakin Lockwood designed this building in 1888 in the black-and-white revival style for the 1st Duke of Westminster. This construction was part of a broader renewal of Chester's commercial spaces during the Victorian era.

This building forms part of the Chester Rows, a medieval two-level shopping system that shapes how commerce functions in the city center. Visitors can experience how retail spaces operate within this distinctive local arrangement.

The ground and upper levels contain modern retail spaces, with a seven-step staircase providing access to the upper shopping area. It is worth noting the split-level design when planning your visit, as accessing different parts may require climbing these steps.

The roof contains pargetted panels and mullioned windows, while the Grosvenor family coat of arms appears on the Eastgate Street side. This detail reveals the connection between the building and the aristocratic family that shaped Chester for centuries.

Location: Cheshire West and Chester

Inception: 1888

Architects: Thomas Meakin Lockwood

Made from material: wood

Part of: Chester Rows

GPS coordinates: 53.19020,-2.89150

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:48