Chester MP sees how investment is preserving historic Rows

The City of Chester Labour MP joined Historic England and Cheshire West and Chester Council to see how the Chester Rows High Street Heritage Action Zone is helping people care for their historic city centre.

The Chester Rows are unique and distinctive galleried walkways above the street level with medieval origins in the 13th century, and now house around 300 diverse businesses. Through Historic England, the Chester Rows received over £1m to make improvements to the Rows and to stabilise their condition.

Pippa Brown (Historic Places Adviser, Historic England), Marie Smallwood (Head of Advice North, Historic England) and Samantha Dixon (MP, City of Chester) reading the interpretive boards that explain the work being done to improve the Chester Rows.

This has included improving safety, restoring decoration to ceilings and walls using high quality materials, repairing walkway bridges, and installing better lighting so that the Rows feel more welcoming. Funding also helped the newly opened Northgate Coachworks Frontage and Arcade, which altogether with the new Chester Market, Storyhouse and the Chester Cathedral’s solar panels shows how the city’s future can successfully incorporate it’s past.

Alongside these improvements, the High Street Heritage Action Zone is also injecting interactive interpretation to the Chester Rows through Roman Tours who are bringing the medieval history of Chester to life by providing animated, costumed meet and greet sessions for visitors and residents.

Cllr Richard Beacham, Samantha Dixon MP, Daniel Lowe (Guide in Medieval history from Roman Tours), Marie Smallwood (Head of Advice North, Historic England) and Pippa Brown (Historic Places Adviser, Historic England) outside of the refurbished Coachworks.

The project is also bringing unused spaces back to life by opening them up to local artists and organising activities and events for the community through a cultural programme.

Ms Dixon also heard from local business owners who spoke about how the project is helping to improve their shop frontages in the Rows and attracting more footfall, showing how an investment in Chester’s historic environment can create a more prosperous and vibrant city centre for the community and visitors.

Ms Dixon said: “It was a pleasure to meet with representatives from Historic England and Cheshire West and Chester Council today. I was grateful to learn more about the work Historic England has been doing with partners in Chester city centre.

“Chester is an amazing example of a living and breathing heritage site. The city has continued to adapt to the changing needs of shoppers and visitors whilst preserving its heritage.

The tour looking at improvements being made to the rows walkway area with the timber flooring and balustrade.

“I’m looking forward to growing and strengthening the relationship with Historic England in my role as Member of Parliament for the City of Chester.”

Councillor Richard Beacham, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth, Economy and Regeneration, said: “Conservation and restoration work has continued for the past 12 months and now the results can be seen on the walkways, ceilings, flanking walls, stallboards, balustrades, repaired joinery, lighting, and enhanced signage on the Rows.

“The Chester Rows High Street Heritage Action Zone has many strands, that in addition to the physical work has also seen an exciting programme of events and activities from fashion shoots to story-telling and guided tours. New guides have also been produced for the businesses and residents on the Rows, offering help to further enhance and protect these architectural gems so they can be enjoyed by generations to come.

“This year’s Heritage Festival will be featuring our historic Rows in all their glory and encouraging more people to explore these double decker streets unique to Chester.”

Marie Smallwood, Historic England’s Head of Advice North, said: “It was a pleasure to showcase the fantastic work being carried out on the Rows to ensure these unique spaces remain a vibrant part of Chester.

“The Rows are now in better repair and I was excited to see that a number of new business have opened. Chester’s heritage is one as a place of trade and it is encouraging to see new premises continuing this tradition.

“It was also exciting to visit the new Market, which demonstrates how new development can contribute to the offer of a historic place.”