Watchman's Box is a Grade II* listed building in the Bath and North East Somerset local planning authority area, England. First listed on 12 June 1950. Sentry box.
Watchman's Box
- WRENN ID
- winter-rotunda-dust
- Grade
- II*
- Local Planning Authority
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Constituency
- Bath MP: Wera Hobhouse (LD)
- Country
- England
- Date first listed
- 12 June 1950
- Type
- Sentry box
- Address
- Watchman's Box, Norfolk Crescent
- OS grid reference
- ST 743 649
- Coordinates
- 51.3831, -2.36978
- Source
- Historic England listing
Description
The Watchman's Box is a Grade II* listed small circular sentry-box located on the west side of Norfolk Crescent, dating from around 1810. It is possibly designed by John Palmer, who is thought to be the architect of Norfolk Crescent. The structure is made of limestone ashlar, including the roof.
The exterior features a plain cylindrical shape with four pilasters that have moulded capitals supporting an entablature. The frieze has eight plain raised paterae, and there is a moulded cornice below a flat conical dome that is constructed in two steps. The bases of the pilasters are not visible, likely hidden by the rise in the pavement and ground level. The box faces north towards the street crossing, and it has a worn plank door that retains one strap hinge, with the other hinge missing as of June 1994.
This building is a rare example of its type, showcasing a high level of architectural detail. It underwent restoration in the 1890s.
Local climate
Watchman's Box receives an average of 860 mm of rain a year. This makes it wetter than 60% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 64% of listed buildings.
It experiences an average of 34 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 52% of listed buildings. Of these, 15 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.
Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.
More on this building
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- No EPC on record for this property
- No sale records on file
- No related consent applications matched
- Detailed attributes — period, style, materials, features
- Flood risk assessment
- Radon risk assessment
- Weather exposure and heating demand — rain and frost month by month and year by year, wind direction, solar and humidity
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