Chandos House

Chandos House is a large house, dating from 1726 to 1730, designed by John Wood the Elder and forming part of the St John’s Hospital complex. It is a building of group value. The house is constructed of fine ashlar with a slate roof, and its plan is L-shaped, attached to No.5, Chapel Court.

The exterior features three lofty floors, an attic, and a basement, with a principal front facing north across five bays. The windows are twelve-pane sashes, set within moulded architraves, with a sill band and a frieze and straight cornice at the first floor. Basement windows are splayed and set in a rubble wall, with a straight stone staircase providing access to a second basement level. Four small hipped dormers with two-light, small-pane casements are incorporated into the high mansard roof. A tall six-panel door with a transom light is centrally located, raised three steps and flanked by returned iron railings leading to the basement. A stack is situated to the left end adjacent to the building’s steps. Above the ground floor platband, fine incised Roman lettering identifies the building as “ST JOHN’S HOSPITAL” to the left and “CHANDOS BUILDINGS” to the right. A modillion cornice sits on a pulvinated frieze, below a low blocking course and parapet. The street front consists of five bays with three dormers, detailing mirroring the entrance facade. Two blind windows are found on the left at first floor, and two lights with decorative iron grilles are present at basement level within a plinth. A deep ridge stack is visible to the left, and another to the right gable, which returns in squared rubble. The rear elevation, facing into Chapel Court, displays a splayed wall with sash windows and a five-storey section. The end of the main range features blank sunk panels at ground floor level, with an incised Roman lettering panel identifying it as "CHAPEL COURT."

The interior has not been inspected. Historical records indicate that Walter Ison considered the buildings, including Chandos Buildings, to be John Wood's first significant works in Bath, noting their superior scale and character to those preceding them. The 1st Duke of Chandos was actively involved in development on the edge of Bath, employing Wood as his architect to develop the grounds of St John’s Hospital. Recent research suggests the house may date to around 1740, with the inscribed name reflecting a later addition linked to the Duke's adjacent developments. The building has more recently been used by the Salvation Army.