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Chester Rows, Cheshire

Row in Bridge Street, Chester. This image is copyright free

The Chester Rows, in Cheshire, are unique groups of two level arcaded buildings. The Rows have a very long history, probably dating back to the collapse of Roman rule in Britain. The ruins of Roman buildings littered the streets of Chester, and it is thought that building was restarted into and on top of the rubble, eventually leading to the dual level Rows. The Rows' oldest present buildings, such as Three Old Arches in Bridge Street, are thirteenth century.

There isn't a a single Row, but several groups, with the best examples in Watergate, Eastgate and Bridge Street. The Chester Visitors' Centre in Vicar's Street has an exhibition describing the Rows' history. The Rows contain a wide variety of shops, which include popular chain stores and many other specialists shops. The Visitors' Centre has a recreation of a cobbled Victorian shopping street. Click here for an interactive map centred on Bridge Street.

For information on Roman Chester click here.

 

Contact: Chester Visitor Centre, Vicars Lane, Chester CH1 1QX ( open 9.30am - 5pm daily but closed 25th - 26th December and 1st January).

telephone: 01244 401796

e-mail: tis@chestercc.gov.uk

web site: www.chester.gov.uk