 
Gods Providence House
This half-timbered house is at Number 9 Watergate Street. It has Watergate Street Row South running through the first floor. The building is famous for its inscription on the front reading : 'Gods providence is mine inheritance'. It is thought this was the only house in Chester to escape the Black Death. The last outbreak of black death was in 1647-8, five years before the house was built. 2000 people in total died in Chester alone. The inscription was also taken by the Earl of Cork as his motto in 1620.
The building dates from 1652 but was restored in the 1861 by the architect James Harrison when the owner Mr Gregg proposed to demolish it. Some of the original timbers were included in the restoration.
During the restoration the windows were enlarged and rich plaster work decoration was added between the external timbers. The plaster work is hard to see from the road, and is often overlooked.
The inscription : Gods Providence is mine inheritance
This picture was taken from Watergate Street North facing South.
Chester Mill Shop
9 Watergate St, Chester, CH1 2LB. Tel 01244 400 045
No Web Site
Gods Providence House Door Knocker
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