St Nicholas' Chapel
The former St. Nicholas's Chapel is one of Chester's most fascinating buildings, with a history of different uses spanning seven centuries.
It is thought to have been built in the early 14th century by Simon de Albo, abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of St.Werburgh (later Chester Cathedral). When the Abbey nave was rebuilt in the mid 14th century, parishioners who had worshipped in the south aisle at an alter dedicated to St. Oswald, moved to St. Nicholas's Chapel. The surviving medieval fabric, comprising sandstone walls, buttresses and window arches, can be seen from the lane to the side of the building.
In 1488, ownership passed to the City Assembly or Corporation. The building was altered and enlarged and in 1545 it became Chester's Common Hall, replacing the original Common Hall or Moot Hall in Commonhall Street. In 1698, corporate and civic activity moved to the new Exchange building in Northgate Street and the old chapel was used as the Wool Hall.
By the early 18th century it had become a playhouse and in 1773 it was largely reconstructed as the New Theatre. Four years later it was licensed by the Crown as the Theatre Royal and became one of the country's most fashionable provincial theatres. All the famous actors of the Georgian and Regency stage appeared here to great popular acclaim, including George Cooke, Sarah Siddons, Edmund Kean and Mrs Jordan, mistress of the Duke of Clarance (later Wiliam IV). In those days, the main entrance to the galleries and boxes was to the rear of the building in Northgate Street.
By Victorian times, the theatre had fallen from fashion the building was in poor condition. In 1854-55, the prominant local architect James Harrison converted into the Music Hall. He created a new entrance with Tudor Gothic facade in St. Werburgh Street. In 1867 Charles Dickens caused a sensation with readings from his novels in the Music Hall.
In the 20th century the building became a cinema. By 1960s it was one of Chester's earliest supermarkets and has since had various retail uses.