Park House, Chester

Park House is a Grade II listed former townhouse at 37–41 Lower Bridge Street, Chester, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. The building was constructed in about 1717 as a town house for Elizabeth Booth, and it was extended in the late 18th century. In 1818 it was converted into a hotel named the Albion Hotel, at which time the two acres of parkland behind the house were converted into Chester's first public pleasure gardens. The gardens closed in 1865 when Grosvenor Park was being developed, and working-class terraced houses were built on the site. At some point the hotel's name was changed to the Talbot Hotel. The house later became used as a library, and later still as a licensed premises and shop. Alterations were carried out in the 20th century. Architecturally, the building is constructed in brick that is rendered on the front, with stone dressings and a grey slate roof. Its architectural style is Georgian. It is in three storeys with a semi-basement, symmetrical with five bays. The central bay contains a projecting porch with Tuscan columns, and seven steps lead up to the main entrance. Four steps go down to the north semi-basement and two to the south semi-basement. At the sides of the building are rusticated quoins. Each bay on all storeys contains a sash window, and the interior includes a ballroom.

Park House was built in about 1717 as a town house for Elizabeth Booth. It was extended in the late 18th century, and in 1818 was converted into a hotel named the Albion Hotel. At this time the 2 acres (0.81 ha) of parkland behind the house were converted into Chester's first public pleasure gardens. The gardens closed in 1865 when the Grosvenor Park was being developed, and working-class terraced houses were built on the site. At some time the name of the hotel was changed to the Talbot Hotel. The house later became used as a library, and later as a licensed premises and shop. Alterations were carried out in the 20th century.

• 1865

  Pleasure gardens closed when Grosvenor Park was being developed; working-class terraced houses built on the site.

• 1818

  Converted into a hotel named the Albion Hotel; parkland behind converted into Chester's first public pleasure gardens.

• 1717

  Park House built as a town house for Elizabeth Booth.

1. 1Park House, Chesteren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Park House, Chesterwikidata.org