Bear and Billet, Grade I listed pub in Lower Bridge Street, Chester, England
The Bear and Billet is a Grade I listed timber-framed building with three stories and black and white exterior on Lower Bridge Street in Chester. The structure features carved wooden panels and leaded-glass windows that reflect its medieval origins and craftsmanship.
This building was constructed in 1664 as a townhouse for the Earls of Shrewsbury and later served as a grain storage facility and keeper's residence. Its changing uses across centuries reflect the evolving needs of Chester as a trading center.
The name comes from heraldic traditions of the Earls of Shrewsbury and refers to a chained creature tied to a wooden stake. This historical reference shapes how people perceive and talk about this building today.
The building sits on a busy street and is easy to find on foot thanks to its distinctive black and white exterior. As an active pub, visitors can step inside to experience how the historic spaces are used and arranged today.
The roof structure displays a rare herringbone pattern that showcases 17th-century craftsmanship and is clearly visible in the gable end. Creating such intricate geometric patterns required considerable skill and time from the carpenters of that era.
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