Pareas Hall, Chester

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Town House

There are no visible remains

NamePareas Hall, Chester
Alternative NamesParis's Hall; Pares Place; Hawarden's Hall,
Historic CountryCheshire
Modern AuthorityCheshire
1974 AuthorityCheshire
Civil ParishChester

A major stone house within the Row system, occupying the site of 57-71 Lower Bridge Street. In the later C17, Randle Holme, the Chester Herald, noted that: 'This in ancient tyme was a famous structure of ston much like a castle of ffort having an high tower'. (Turner)

Gatehouse Comments

A record of a rare fortified town house. Turner writes 'Large stone town house with high towers are very rare in English medieval cities compared with their ubiquity in contemporary Italy' stating only one other such house known (Pultney's Manor of the Rose). ' an high tower' is a relative term and might just mean a tower of three or four storeys. A less exacting search of fortified town houses of a similar sort would produce records of a dozen or more such houses and certainly Servats Tower, Bucklesbury is another merchants house described as having a stone tower. See the listing of Crenellated Town Houses for a larger overview.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSJ406658
Latitude53.1865005493164
Longitude-2.889240026474
Eastings340650
Northings365850
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

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Books

  • Turner, Rick, 2009, 'The Life and Career of Richard the Engineer' in Willams, D. and Kenyon, J. (eds), The Impact of the Edwardian Castles in Wales (Oxbow) p. 46-58 esp 53 and map on 54
  • Lewis, C.P. and Thacker, A.T. (eds), 2003, VCH Cheshire Vol. 5 Part 1 p. 53, 218 online transcription

Journals

  • Davis, Philip, 2010-11, 'Crenellated town houses in Medieval England' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol. 24 p. 270-91
  • J.H.E.B(ennett), 1922, 'Pares Place or Hawarden's Hall, Chester' Cheshire Sheaf Vol. 19 (ser3) p. 72-3

Primary Sources

  • Stewart-Brown, R. (ed), 1925, Calendar of County Court, City Court, and Eyre Rolls of Chester, 1259-97, with an Inquest of Military Service, 1288 (Chetham Society 2nd ser. 84) p. 204