Browns of Chester
![[[Crypt Chambers]] houses part of the store and is a Grade I [[listed building]].](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Crypt_Chambers_1.jpg)
The oldest part of the store is housed in the Grade I listed Crypt Chambers, designed by T. M. Penson incorporating Georgian, Tudor and Gothic facades. Construction was completed in 1858. The building incorporates part of the Chester Rows. On the front of the tower at Row level is a blank scroll, on the east face is a recessed panel containing the initials W. B. (for William Brown), on the west face the initials are C. B. (for Charles Brown) and on the rear face is a scroll inscribed ''AD 1858: Crypt Chambers''. The Gothic facade frontage is built over a medieval undercroft dating from the twelfth century. The undercroft most recently contained 'The Tea Press' tea room.
Another extension to the building was completed in 1965 to link Browns to the nearby Grosvenor Shopping Centre. A new three-story extension was built in 2002 on the site formerly occupied by the offices of the ''Chester Chronicle''.
It was acquired by Debenhams in 1976. Browns was the only store in the group to retain its own trading name alongside the standard 'Debenhams' branding. Debenhams entered liquidation in early 2021 and all remaining stores closed during May that year. The building was owned by British Land. It was bought by Martin Property Group in 2022, along with the neighbouring Grosvenor Shopping Centre. Provided by Wikipedia
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1by Marissa M. Shams-White, Nigel T. Brockton, Panagiota Mitrou, Dora Romaguera, Susannah Brown, Alice Bender, Lisa L. Kahle, Jill ReedyGet full text
Published 2019-07-01
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