a Treasure with a Modern Heart in the Centre of Chester
‘‘Chain-free, historic, and spacious, Cromwell Lodge is not simply another Chester house, it is a living piece of the city’s story, waiting for its next chapter to begin.’’
Lesley Scott - Chapter by Scott & Spencer
Cromwell Lodge, 158 Foregate Street,
For those who love their homes with history woven into every beam, few properties could rival the rare character of Cromwell Lodge on Chester’s Foregate Street. Marketed at £725,000, this Grade II-listed semi-detached house has part of one of the city’s oldest surviving timber-framed dwellings, dating back to around 1560.
Step inside and it quickly becomes apparent that this is no museum piece. The lodge, meticulously restored in collaboration with English Heritage in the early 2000s, now offers more than 3,000 sq ft of living space, perfectly reimagined for modern family life.
The ground floor is a procession of handsome rooms: a formal drawing room bathed in natural light from three grand sash windows, a shaker-style kitchen with a generous island and walk-in pantry, and a sitting room that shows off exposed Tudor timbering. There’s also a playroom, study, and the practicalities one would expect of a home this size.
Upstairs, the principal bedroom makes a statement with its semi-vaulted ceiling and beams, complemented by a smart en-suite. Four further bedrooms (one currently a dressing room) are supported by a luxurious bathroom featuring a claw-foot bath. Even the cellar has been pressed into service, with three rooms offering laundry and storage, though their potential stretches further for the imaginative.
The setting is just as compelling. From its position within the historic Bars district, Cromwell Lodge places Grosvenor Park and the River Dee on the doorstep, while the restaurants and boutiques of the city centre are a short stroll away. Chester station, with direct trains to London, Manchester and Liverpool, and the M53/M56 motorways are close at hand, underscoring the house’s appeal for commuters.
Outside, the lodge offers three private parking spaces to the rear in a gated setting.
‘‘ A home that respects its 16th-century fabric whilst embracing the expectations of 21st-century living. It is rare to find a house that speaks so eloquently of the past’’
5 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Foregate Street, Chester, CH1