Description

WELLS

ST5446 THE LIBERTY
662-1/6/304 (North side)
12/11/53 No.11

GV II

Former Canonical house, now part of Wells Cathedral Junior
School. Early to mid C18, extension 1879. Random coursed local
stone rubble with Doulting ashlar dressings, Welsh slate roof
behind tall parapets, ashlar chimney stacks. A symmetrical
double-depth plan with central staircase hall; the C19
extension includes a new sitting-room and cottage.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys and basement, 3 wide bays, the outer ones
full-height shallow canted bays with windows to each facet.
Parapet band and plain parapet. All windows 12-pane sashes in
moulded stone architraves with keystones. Entrance in centre
has a 6-panel door with an 8-pane sash as a sidelight each
side, all arranged as a Venetian opening with Doric pilasters,
entablature over window, and semicircular radially-glazed
fanlight with hood over door. Extensions to rear, left.
INTERIOR: the stone-flagged hall has contemporary dado
panelling, with a triple-arched screen with architraves,
keystones and imposts, through to staircase with 3 turned
balusters to each tread. Ground-floor left has a wide blocked
elliptical arch to recess, and room to right includes a wide
pair of doors with fielded panels. One upper room has a
fireplace with eared architrave. The basement has wide
segmental groined vaults in rough-set stonework.
HISTORICAL NOTE: the property is first recorded in 1375; in
1660 William Busby, later headmaster of Westminster School,
was in occupation. In 1969 the property was leased to the
Cathedral School.
(Bailey S: Canonical Houses of Wells: Gloucester: 1982-: 28 TO
40).

Listing NGR: ST5509046108

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26663131

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living