Watergate House, Chester, Grade II* listed building in Chester, England
Watergate House is a residence on Watergate Street featuring brown brick construction with curved entrance lines and a grey slate roof. It displays classical proportions with stone detailing, an eight-panel door within an Ionic surround, and a domed circular lobby accessed by six curved steps.
Thomas Harrison designed this house in 1820 for Henry Potts, a county official. The building later transitioned to military use, becoming an important administrative center that shaped Chester's landscape for over two centuries.
The house once functioned as an administrative center for military operations, serving as Western Command headquarters for several decades. Today it stands as a reminder of Chester's role in managing broader regional affairs beyond the city itself.
The house is centrally located on a main street and easy to approach from the surrounding area. Visitors can view the exterior and entrance design from street level, where the architectural details are clearly visible.
The building includes two false windows complete with painted black brickwork, frames, and glass panes. These deceptive features were created to maintain the classical symmetry of the facade, even though no rooms exist behind them.
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