Chester

We bid farewell to Mike and Dott and headed off the Chester. I really wanted to see the Plague House there ever since I found out that the back doorknocker I grew up with in Staples street was a representation of a house in Chester which was called the Plague House or God's Providence house.

The original building on the site was constructed in the 13th century but the present house was built in 1652. During the 19th century its owners wanted to demolish it but around this time the Chester and North Wales Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Society were campaigning against the loss of ancient buildings in the city. The owners agreed to a timber replacement of the building which was carried out by James Harrison in 1862. He incorporated some of the timberwork from the original house, and designed a larger and more elaborate building.

The name of the house is reputed to come from its being the only house to have escaped the outbreak of plague in 1647–48 which killed 2,000 people in the city. However this house was not built until after the plague and it is more likely that it refers to the owners of the previous building on the site being spared the disease

Next door there was an excellent example of medieval under crofts which are quite common throughout the city.

The Old Crypt is built in sandstone and brick with a grey slate roof. It has five storeys; the lowest two are medieval undercrofts dating from about 1180, and the storey above it includes part of Chester Rows. The top two storeys are in Georgian style and date from about 1744. Externally at street level is a 19th-century shop front with two chamfered piers. This is now a 21 st century shop. The crypt had been used as a hospital and morgue during plage outbreaks and even at one time as an amoury for the town. It still has the hooks in the ceiling where they hung the weapons.

Chester was the most amazing town, so ancient and much Roman heritage remains.

We went on a vintage bus tour around the city.

This was part of the Roman amphitheatre which was only uncovered in recent decades.

We walked around part of the walls that surround the town

 

Remains of some Roman buildings

Roman hypocaust which has been reassembled in a park.

Lots of lovely old tudor buildings. There were also a lot of victorian replicas which while not being old were quite beautiful and intricate.

Supposedly the oldest surviving shop front in Europe.

A hypocaust in situ found in cellar of old shop.

 

We loved Chester. It's a shame we couldn't explore longer but we needed to get to Llanberis ready for a trip up Snowdon if it's fine tomorrow.