Dee House

Last updated

Dee House

Dee House.jpg

Dee House
Location Little John Street, Chester, Cheshire, England
Coordinates 53°11′20″N2°53′14″W / 53.1888°N 2.8872°W / 53.1888; -2.8872 Coordinates: 53°11′20″N2°53′14″W / 53.1888°N 2.8872°W / 53.1888; -2.8872
OS grid reference SJ 424 664
Built c. 1730
Built for John Comberbach
Architect Edmund Kirby (east wing)
Architectural style(s) Georgian, Gothic Revival, Neo-Georgian
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated 10 January 1972
Reference no. 1375862
Cheshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Cheshire

Dee House is in Little John Street, Chester, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. [1] The house is built on the southern part of the site of Chester Amphitheatre. [2]

Chester city in Cheshire, England

Chester is a walled city in Cheshire, England, on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales. With a population of 118,200 in 2011, it is the most populous settlement of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 332,200 in 2014. Chester was granted city status in 1541.

Cheshire County of England

Cheshire is a county in North West England, bordering Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south and Flintshire, Wales and Wrexham county borough to the west. Cheshire's county town is the City of Chester (118,200); the largest town is Warrington (209,700). Other major towns include Crewe (71,722), Ellesmere Port (55,715), Macclesfield (52,044), Northwich (75,000), Runcorn (61,789), Widnes (61,464) and Winsford (32,610)

The National Heritage List for England (NHLE) is England’s official list of buildings, monuments, parks and gardens, wrecks, battlefields and World Heritage Sites. It is maintained by Historic England and brings together these different designations as a single resource even though they vary in the type of legal protection afforded to each. Conservation areas do not appear on the NHLE since they are designated by the relevant local planning authority.

Contents

History

Dee House was built in about 1730 as a town house for John Comberbach, a former mayor of Chester. Extensions were made in the 1740s to the south and southwest, giving the house an L-shaped plan. It continued in use as a private residence until about 1850, when it was sold to the Church of England. In 1854 it passed to the Faithful Companions of Jesus, a religious institute of the Roman Catholic Church, who used it as a convent school. They added a wing to the east, which incorporated in its ground floor a chapel designed by Edmund Kirby. The chapel is in Gothic Revival style, in contrast to the rest of the building in Georgian style. A west wing in Neo-Georgian style was added in about 1900. In 1925 the building was taken over by the Ursulines, another religious institute. In 1929 they added another block to the south of the building, and during the process the remains of a Roman amphitheatre were found beneath it. In the early 1970s the convent closed and the building was used as offices by British Telecom. They vacated the building in the early 1990s and it has been empty since. [2]

Church of England Anglican state church of England

The Church of England is the established church of England. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior cleric, although the monarch is the supreme governor. The Church of England is also the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain by the third century, and to the 6th-century Gregorian mission to Kent led by Augustine of Canterbury.

Faithful Companions of Jesus Roman Catholic female order

The Faithful Companions of Jesus Sisters was founded in Amiens in France in 1820 by Marie Madeleine de Bonnault d'Hoüet. They are a Christian religious institute of the Roman Catholic Church directly subject to the Pope.

A religious institute is a type of institute of consecrated life in the Catholic Church where its members take religious vows and lead a life in community with fellow members. Religious institutes are one of the two types of institutes of consecrated life; the other is that of the secular institute, where its members are "living in the world".

Architecture

The building is constructed in brick with stone dressings, and has slate roofs. Its plan consists of a central block and two wings. The central block is in Georgian style, the west wing is Neo-Georgian, and the east wing, which incorporates the chapel, is Gothic Revival. The windows in the central block and the west wing are sashes, and those in east wing are lancets. The slates on the roof of the east wing are in grey and purple bands. On the apex of the roof of this wing is a cross finial. [1]

Slate A fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous, weakly metamorphic rock

Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. It is the finest grained foliated metamorphic rock. Foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering, but instead is in planes perpendicular to the direction of metamorphic compression.

Sash window made of one or more movable panels, or "sashes"

A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels, or "sashes", that form a frame to hold panes of glass, which are often separated from other panes by glazing bars, also known as muntins in the US. Although any window with this style of glazing is technically a sash, the term is used almost exclusively to refer to windows where the glazed panels are opened by sliding vertically, or horizontally in a style known as a "Yorkshire light", sliding sash, or sash and case.

Lancet window architectural element

A lancet window is a tall, narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are typical of Gothic church edifices of the earliest period. Lancet windows may occur singly, or paired under a single moulding, or grouped in an odd number with the tallest window at the centre.

See also

Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. It contains over 650 structures that are designated as listed buildings by English Heritage and included in the National Heritage List for England. Of these, over 500 are listed at Grade II, the lowest of the three gradings given to listed buildings and applied to "buildings of national importance and special interest". This list contains the Grade II listed buildings in the unparished area of the city to the east of the Chester city walls and to the south of the Shropshire Union Canal.

Related Research Articles

Chester Castle Grade I listed military museum in Chester Castle, United Kingdom

Chester Castle is in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. It is sited at the southwest extremity of the area bounded by the city walls. The castle stands on an eminence overlooking the River Dee. In the castle complex are the remaining parts of the medieval castle together with the neoclassical buildings designed by Thomas Harrison which were built between 1788 and 1813. Parts of the neoclassical buildings are used today as Crown Courts and as a military museum. The museum and the medieval remains are a tourist attraction.

Capernwray Hall former country house in Lancashire, England

Capernwray Hall is a former country house situated 3 miles east-northeast of Carnforth, Lancashire, England, and is currently used as a Christian Bible school and holiday centre. The house is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It stands in grounds included in the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens at Grade II.

Thomas Harrison (architect) English architect

Thomas Harrison was an English architect and bridge engineer who trained in Rome, where he studied classical architecture. Returning to England, he won the competition in 1782 for the design of Skerton Bridge in Lancaster. After moving to Lancaster he worked on local buildings, received commissions for further bridges, and designed country houses in Scotland. In 1786 Harrison was asked to design new buildings within the grounds of Lancaster and Chester castles, projects that occupied him, together with other works, until 1815. On both sites he created accommodation for prisoners, law courts, and a shire hall, while working on various other public buildings, gentlemen's clubs, churches, houses, and monuments elsewhere. His final major commission was for the design of Grosvenor Bridge in Chester.

St Marys Creative Space Church in Cheshire, England

St Mary's Creative Space, formerly the Church of St Mary-on-the-Hill, stands at the top of St Mary's Hill, Chester, Cheshire, England, near Chester Castle. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. The church stands at the top of a narrow winding lane which leads down to the River Dee, and it is adjacent to Chester Castle. In the 1970s the church was converted into an educational centre. It is currently available for use as a concert and exhibition venue and the Chester Music Society hold many concerts there throughout the year. The building is programmed by Theatre in the Quarter, and the venue hosts a lively programme of art and cultural events, from homegrown Cestrian performers, national and international acts.

St Oswalds Church, Backford Church in Cheshire, England

St Oswald's Church is in the village of Backford, to the northwest of Chester, Cheshire, England, close to the A41 road and adjoining Backford Hall. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. The church dates from the 14th century with later additions and restorations. It contains one of the few surviving aumbries in Cheshire and a number of memorial boards painted by the Randle Holme family. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Wirral South. Its benefice is combined with that of Holy Trinity Church, Capenhurst. From March 2018 this benefice shares a Vicar with All Saints, Saughall.

St Nicholas Chapel, Chester former chapel in Chester, England, later concert hall and cinema, now used as a shop

St Nicholas' Chapel is a former chapel in St Werburgh Street, Chester, Cheshire, England. Since it ceased functioning as a chapel it has had a number of uses, including being at one time a theatre. It is now used as a shop. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building, and is a scheduled monument.

St Michael and All Angels Church, Little Leigh Church in Cheshire, England

St Michael and All Angels Church is in the village of Little Leigh, Cheshire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Great Budworth. It is one of three parish churches in the parish of Aston-by-Sutton, Little Leigh and Lower Whitley. The others being St Peter, Aston-by-Sutton and St Luke, Lower Whitley. Until 31 May 2013, the three were separate parishes united in a benefice along with St Mark, Antrobus

St Marys Church, Handbridge Church in Cheshire, England

St Mary's Church is in Overleigh Road in Handbridge, an area south of the River Dee, in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. It is also known as the Church of St Mary-without-the-Walls. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Chester.

St Pauls Church, Helsby Church in Cheshire, England

St Paul's Church is in the village of Helsby, Cheshire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building, and is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Frodsham. Its benefice is combined with that of St Luke, Dunham-on-the-Hill.

Christ Church, Chester Church in Cheshire, England

Christ Church is a Church of England parish church in Somerset Street, Chester, Cheshire, England. It is in the Archdeaconry of Chester and the Deanery of Chester. Its benefice is combined with that of St Michael, Plas Newton. It is a Grade II listed building.

Walmoor Hill

Walmoor Hill is a large house in an elevated position overlooking the River Dee on the west side of Dee Banks, Chester, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. The authors of the Buildings of England series describe it as a "house of considerable size and panache".

Jodrell Hall grade II listed building in the United kingdom

Jodrell Hall is a country house near Jodrell Bank in the parish of Twemlow, in the county of Cheshire, England.

St Johns Church, High Legh Church in Cheshire, UK

St John's Church is located in the village of High Legh, Cheshire, England, and is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Knutsford, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield, and the diocese of Chester.

Whatcroft Hall

Whatcroft Hall is a country house situated 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the southeast of the village of Davenham, Cheshire, England. It stands to the east of, and overlooking, the Trent and Mersey Canal. The house is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

Willington Hall grade II listed hotel in the United kingdom

Willington Hall is a former country house in the parish of Willington, Cheshire, England. It was extended in 1878, but reduced in size in the 1950s, and has since been in use as a hotel.

Christ Church, Barnton Church in Cheshire, England

Christ Church is in the village of Barnton, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Great Budworth, the archdeaconry of Chester, and the diocese of Chester. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

Bluecoat School, Chester

The Blue Coat School is located in Upper Northgate Street, Chester, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

St Werburghs Church, Chester Church in Cheshire, England

St Werburgh's Church is in Grosvenor Park Road, Chester, Cheshire, England. It is an active Roman Catholic parish church in the diocese of Shrewsbury. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

Queen Hotel, Chester grade II listed hotel in the United kingdom

Queen Hotel, Chester, is located on the corner of City Road and Station Road, Chester, Cheshire, England, and stands opposite Chester General Station. The hotel is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

Norcliffe Chapel Church in Cheshire, England

Norcliffe Chapel is in the village of Styal, Cheshire, England. It is a Unitarian chapel, and is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. The chapel was built in 1822–23 by a mill owner for his workers, and was extended by his son in 1867. Further additions were made in 1906. The chapel is built in brick, and is in Gothic Revival style. Since 1977 it has been in the ownership of the National Trust, but continues to function as an active Unitarian chapel.

References

  1. 1 2 Historic England, "Dee House (1375862)", National Heritage List for England , retrieved 3 November 2011
  2. 1 2 Langtree, Stephen; Comyns, Alan, eds. (2001), 2000 Years of Building: Chester's Architectural Legacy, Chester: Chester Civic Trust, p. 117, ISBN   0-9540152-0-7
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.