Timber framed houses

In the same stash of postcards I came across last week were these three of timber framed houses.

The first is unfortunately no longer standing.  The Old Dutch House was built in the 17th century in the centre of Bristol.  It wasn't called the Old Dutch House until much later, in the 19th century.  The story goes that it was built from Dutch timber, possibly from an old ship.

It was damaged during an air raid early in World War II and demolished soon afterwards in 1940.

God's Providence House in Chester is happily still in use. Although there was a building on the site from the 14th century, the current house was built in the 17th century like the building in Bristol.  There is a shop at street level and another reached by steps forming part of Chester's unique Rows.

God Begot House in Winchester, the oldest of the three (dating from 1050) is one I know well from the years I lived in the Winchester area.  When I knew it, it housed a chocolate shop, which can't be bad, but now I believe it is an Italian Restaurant.  On my large first scan of the card, it appeared that there was a hotel and restaurant in the building.

It was once owned by Emma, wife first of Ethelred the Unready and then of Canute.  When she died she bequeathed it to the monks of St Swithun.

An entry for this week's Sepia Saturday on the subject of houses.

Chester Cathedral

This card has never been used at all, no writing, no date, no postmark.  I think it probably dates from the 1960s.

Chester, The Cathedral from the south-east.
This magnificent church is said to have its earliest foundations in Roman times , when a church dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul traditionally stood on this site.  The relics of St. Werburgh, legend has it, were brought here in 875 but the earliest document referring to the church dates from 958.  In 1093 the foundation was changed to an Abbey of Benedictine Monks and dedicated to St. Werburgh.  It became a cathedral after the Dissolution in 1540 and was dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin.