Cowper House, Grade I listed shop in Chester, United Kingdom
Cowper House is an old wooden building from 1664 located at Bridge Street in Chester with four storeys and a roof of grey slate tiles. It combines red sandstone and half-timbered elements with modern shop fronts on the ground level and is part of the Chester Rows, a series of covered walkways with shops at the upper level.
The building was constructed in 1664 shortly after many Chester structures were destroyed during the English Civil War and was owned by Thomas Cowper, who supported the king. The medieval undercrofts beneath it date to the 13th or early 14th century and are remnants from when Chester was a major trading center.
The house bears the name of its first owner, Thomas Cowper, a 17th-century mayor whose initials remain carved into the wooden facade. The layout reflects how wealthy merchants of that era lived and worked, with shops at street level and living spaces above.
The building is easily accessible from Chester's central area and visible from the street with modern shops at ground level and the upper walkway side. Visitors can view the architectural details from outside, including the large windows with many small panes and carved wooden elements.
Beneath the building lie rare medieval vaulted undercrofts from the 13th or 14th century featuring an unusual window in the rear wall, a rare feature among Chester's approximately 20 surviving undercrofts. These underground rooms served as fireproof storage areas and demonstrate the site's importance as a medieval trading hub.
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