Visit Chester

Nine Houses

Of the original nine 17th century almshouses only 6 are left. They are built of timber on sandstone foundations and the people who lived there had to be aged 65 and not drink alcohol or smoke tobacco.


They originally provided somewhere to live for the poor. They are a rare example of construction in the 1650s with each cottage sporting a jetty dormer. One of the famous religious quotations in Chester adorns the late Victorian black and white house next to the almshouses and reads THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE.


After falling into significant disrepair the Council finally won funding to restore them in the late 60s and it became a celebrated conservation programme.



Google Street View of Nine Houses