The Old Brewery With Wall Enclosing Courtyard

The Old Brewery with its enclosing courtyard is a complex of buildings dating from the 18th century, situated on the north side of Newtown in Bradford-on-Avon, extending to Wine Street. Originally a brewery, it is now used as workshops.

The earliest section, on the right, is constructed of good limestone ashlar with a Welsh slate roof. The ground floor area is of squared and dressed limestone. The middle section is of squared and dressed limestone with a slate roof. A later double unit on the left has ashlar facing Wine Street, with squared and coursed stone elsewhere, also under slate roofs. The right-hand section is ivy-covered and appears to have extended further originally, being five storeys high and set back, partially built into the rock face. This section features a series of six large, round-arched vaulted bays, formerly open, some now enclosed with segmental flush arches, projecting keystones, and a continuous plat band. Above are nine bays with small openings to flat, three-centred heads set in flush stonework. Loading openings are present in bays 4, 9, and a set off to the left of the top storey. The middle section is angled slightly and features three very lofty, open arched spaces rising to the level of the third floor of the adjacent block, with internal subdivision running back to the rock face. Six close-set windows are above these arches, followed by three wider-spaced windows, mirroring the detailing of the earlier block with projecting cills. The left-hand block has two coped gables facing Wine Street, with two-light cross-mullioned casements with chamfered surrounds, prominent keystones, and shutters. The plinth dies into the slope on the left. The return elevation on the right, running down the slope in three bays over four storeys and a basement, has three-light openings at low level, and single-light casements on the first and second floors; the second floor window to the right has small-paned glazing. Louvred ventilation openings are set under the eaves.

Internally, the early block has vaulted chambers on the lowest level, followed by two levels of malting floors with flat, segmental-arched vaults supported by cast iron columns and beams carried on large stone corbels. The upper levels have an iron framework, a large open top floor with queen post trusses, and corrugated clear plastic has been added to areas of the roof. The second block features iron columns with branched heads, bearing the makers’ name “STACEY,” supporting a wooden structure. An enclosing boundary wall to Newtown has a large central arch with a keystone, flanked by blind arches and square panels with keys. To the right is a ramp and a stepped section of wall alternating between arched and square panels, returning to the main building's original face. The building is described as possessing "Piranesian grandeur" and holds a vital position in Bradford-on-Avon's townscape, particularly when viewed from the river.