A HIGH-CLASS furniture store has become the latest tenant in what is believed to be the oldest shop front in the country.

Furniture store India Jane have opened in the Three Old Arches shop, on Bridge Street, Chester, the frontage of which dates back to the 13th century.

Christine Lomax, who has opened the shop as the first India Jane franchise in the north of England, said the historic location added to the atmosphere.

She said: “It’s gorgeous and really adds to the whole feel of the shop – everyone who comes in notices it.”

The shop specialises in furniture and furnishings with both traditional and contemporary styles described as “affordable luxury”.

The medieval undercrofts – ground floor – of the building have been much altered, but one still retains its 13th-century sandstone chamfered arches.

For much of the 20th century, these undercrofts were the premises of William Jones, high-class grocers.

Although taken over by Owen Owen in the 1960s, the interior has remained intact and groceries continued to be sold until the store closed in 1999.

The ground floor continues to be used as a shop, with another shop above on The Rows, and upper floors have been converted into apartments. The three chamfered arches – at Row level and dated 1274AD – were probably part of a hall stretching back from the street.