39 Bridge Street, Chester facts for kids
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39 Bridge Street is a fascinating building in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. It's on a special list called the National Heritage List for England, which means it's a very important old building, known as a Grade I listed building. What makes it super special is the amazing ancient Roman heating system, called a hypocaust, found right in its cellar!
What Makes 39 Bridge Street Special?
This building has four floors. On the ground floor, there's a shop, and above that, you'll find part of the famous Chester Rows. The Rows are unique two-level shops that you can walk through, a bit like covered walkways.
Roman History Underground
The most exciting part of 39 Bridge Street is hidden underground. In the cellar, you can see the remains of a Roman hypocaust. This amazing heating system was built way back in the 2nd century, when the Romans lived in Chester.
Imagine a central heating system from nearly 2,000 years ago! A hypocaust worked by blowing hot air from a furnace under the floor. The floor was held up by many small pillars, and the hot air would travel through these spaces, warming the rooms above.
When it was first built, this hypocaust had 32 square pillars arranged in eight rows. Today, you can still see 27 of these pillars in a rectangular room.
Medieval Times and Beyond
After the Romans left, the building continued to change. In the late 1200s or early 1300s, during the medieval period, a stone undercroft was built next to the Roman hypocaust. An undercroft is like a basement room, often used for storage. A house was built on top of this undercroft.
Much later, in 1864, some big changes happened. A new floor was added at street level. Then, in the 20th century, a modern shop front was put in. Today, the ground floor is a cozy café. The Roman hypocaust remains were actually discovered during these building changes in 1864!
