Lynchetts

Lynchetts is a three-storey townhouse constructed of Bath stone ashlar on the south east side of Bradford upon Avon. The main structure dates to 1785, although it incorporates an earlier core from the 17th century. The architect remains unknown.

The building is roughly rectangular in plan. Historical maps suggest it may have originally been a symmetrical block with a canted bay on each side, and that in the 18th century it was built upon and around an existing structure.

The principal elevation features two bays. The right-hand bay on the ground floor has a segmented Venetian window arrangement, with this design repeated on each of the first-floor bays. The second storey mirrors the vertical window alignment, but lacks the semi-circular headed central light. A string course separates the ground and first floors, and a moulded cornice sits below the parapet. The doorway, located in the westerly bay, is a plain opening with an Adamesque door case. This includes pilasters with fluted necking, a moulded architrave with a fluted frieze featuring three paterae, a dentilled cornice, and a pediment. The roof is not visible above the parapet.

In front of the building are rusticated stone gate piers topped by urn and ball-capped finials. A low, rough stone wall runs from the gate piers to the building, establishing a small forecourt. Plain wrought iron railings and gates complete the front elevation.

During the Second World War, Lynchetts was requisitioned and used temporarily to house the collection of John Harrison’s internationally significant 18th-century marine chronometers, which were moved from the Royal Observatory in Greenwich for safekeeping.