Half timbered Cowper House, situated at 12 Bridge Street, forms part of the famous Chester Rows, the rows consist of covered walkways at the first floor behind which are entrances to shops and other premises. At street level is another set of shops and other premises, many of which are entered by going down a few steps. Cowper House is a grade I listed building. The house dates back to 1664 and was constructed following the destruction of many buildings in the city during the Civil War. It was built above medieval undercrofts dating from around 1350-75, or possibly earlier. Alterations have been carried out on the building in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The house's original owner, Thomas Cowper, had been mayor of Chester in 1641-42 and a Royalist supporter in the Civil War. The rear undercroft was excavated in 1839, and it is thought that the front undercroft is older than that in the rear. The red sandstone and half timbered building now incorporates a modern shop front on the ground floor. Between this and the street is a walkway, a sloping stallboard and a rail with balusters overlooking the street. Above the Row opening is a carved fascia. In the storey above is a window running almost the whole width of the building. Its frame projects from the wall and is carried on eight corbels. The window has 14 lights, is mullioned and transomed, and contains leaded lights. Below and on each side of the window are timber-framed panels. The top storey is jettied. At its base is a bressummer carved centrally with ".T.C.1664" (the initials are those of Thomas Cowper), on each side of which are carved patterns. The top storey has a ten-light mullioned and transomed casement window containing leaded lights. Below the window are eight panels containing wooden carvings, and two similar panels are on each side of the window. Above the window are quadrant-braced panels. The bargeboard is decorated with carvings and at its peak is a finial.
