Tudor House
About this image:
Tudor House in 1975.
The publication 2000 Years of building states:
This house only earns its 'Tudor' name by a hairsbreadth, for it probably dates from the year of Elizabeth 1sts death when James 1st became our 1st Stuart King. The plaque dated 1503 above the door, should read 1603. The timber framed house was extended to the rear in the mid 17th century and the front was rebuilt in 1728, when the Row walk through its second storey was enclosed. The location of the former Row and Stall (behind the three early 18th century sash windows) can still be seen from the position of the timbers embedded in its south side. The front door has a Tudor arched case, the third and forth storeys are jettied forward and have leaded mullioned and transomed casements.
Originally built for a wealthy Chester merchant, Tudor House, like many of its contemporaries has had a variety of uses in its time. The two undercrofts at street level are now united as a single shop but were once quite separate. One was a bakehouse while the other was the Britannia Inn with rooms above and, apparently in the neighbouring building (33 Lower Bridge street) when the two were linked together by a bridge which was a continuation of the Row walkway.
Image Description:
This a clour photograph showing Tudor House to the right of the picture.
Tudor House is a timber framed building. The timber-framed building has one gable. Set within the gable are rows of square black timbers on a white ground. The top row has a square with a triangle on each side; the triangles have diagonal lines while the square has a pattern with a diamond in the middle. The next row down has four white squares in the middle with a triangle of diagonal stripes on each site. The bottom row has six squares with the diamond pattern and diagonal stripes in the two sections at the edge of the gable. Below this is a black beam with the and, immediately below the beam in the centre, is a window, which has three frames each with a number panes (about 16). Immediately to the right and left of the window is a narrow strip of white ground between two black uprights. Under the window is a row of white arches on a black background. To either side of the window there are black rectangles with wavy black lines of timber going across. This storey is separated from the one below by a black beam. To the right of the third and fourth storey there is a panel joining this building to the next. The timber framing matches that on the main part of the building. On the third storey there are panels to either side of the same wavy timbers. In the middle there is a pair of windows. Each has three smaller frames at the top and three longer rectangular frames underneath. Each frame contains severe small square panels set in lead. Below the windows there are white squares. This storey is again separated from the one below by a black beam which jetties out slightly. On the second storey there are three sash windows set into a brick background. Each frame has eight panes. The brick has been white washed. On the ground floor there is a door at the left, which is dark with glass in the top half. The bottom of the door is hidden behind passers by. To the left and right of the door are two shop windows. These are quite dark on this image. Next to the building, to the left is a modern building with a sign on the side which reads MIDLAND BANK TRUST COMPANY. At street level there is a door set into an alluminium frame. Above the door is small overhang with a sign which reads DEE BRIDGE HOUSE. To the left of the sign are windows elevated at the first storey. They protrude slightly like bay windows. Beneath here is a a street level restaurant. There are people passing by along the pavement in front.