Listing Text

WELLS

ST5445 MARKET PLACE
662-1/7/153 (East side)
12/11/53 No.14
Diocesan Registry

GV II

Offices. Early C20 facade to C15 fabric, formerly a wing to
the Bishop's Eye gatehouse (qv). Doulting ashlar stone, wing
rendered, Broughton Moor slates in diminishing courses, coped
gable to north, abutment to south. C17 style.
PLAN: front range has a staircase to the rear, left, then a
long wing to the right facing S over the green; there is
access also to the upper stages of the adjoining Bishop's Eye.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys and basement, 3 bays. Moulded parapet
string and battlemented parapet. Cruciform ovolo-mould windows
with rectangular leading to all but lower bay 1, with
rectangular leaded panes, entrance in bay 1 having wide
2-panelled door with 2-pane fanlight in ovolo-mould opening to
match; stackhead to left features Diocesan arms, with lead
downpipe.
The wing has a Welsh slate roof between coped gables, and an
ashlar chimney. 2 storeys, seven bays. Sash windows of 8 panes
in plain openings, buttresses with offsets dressed with slate
between bays 2 and 3 and bays 4 and 5. Worn oval niche high in
otherwise plain east gable.
INTERIOR: the ground floor front room has a very large stone
fireplace with moulded 4-centred arch and C18 surround, and
panelling; one cupboard door has a bolection mould architrave.
The C17 dog-leg staircase has a solid string, splat balusters
and square newel; to the right on this floor is access to a
spiral stair in the gatehouse. The first floor principal room
has a large stone fireplace with moulded 4-centred arch plus
bolection mould surround, 2 doorways with 4-centred arches, a
former 4-light (now 2) ovolo-mould casement with stanchion
bars, and 2 deep embrasures. There are some late C17 3-panel
doors. The basement has a stone floor and central beam, and
the roof structure is a C19 queen-post with straps.
The rear wing is plainly detailed; the roof has a series of
pegged collar trusses.
A photograph of 1930 shows the front to the Market Place with
8-pane sashes, and a full-width stopped drip-course.
(Howell C: Wells in Old Photographs: Gloucester: 1989-: 23).

Listing NGR: ST5507345799