399 AND 400 THE SPA

ST 96 SW 4/207

MELKSHAM WITHOUT THE SPA, MELKSHAM (east side) Nos 399 and 400

GV II

Pair of attached houses. Early C19. Ashlar front and sides; rubblestone to rear, Welsh slate hipped roof, ashlar and brick stacks. 4 storeys, 4 windows. Entrance doors are to left and right, up stone and brick steps to first floor, rusticated flat- roofed porches with semi-circular headed doorways, fanlights and 6 fielded panelled double doors. Entrance to No 399 has wrought iron porch and canopy in addition to stone porch. Basement has two 8- pane sashes and French windows; missing to No 399 and C20 to No 400. First floor is rusticated with four 8-pane sashes in semi- elliptical panels. Plat band with key pattern to second floor, four tall 8-pane sashes with wrought iron balconies. Third floor has four smaller 8-pane sashes, windows of second and third floors are separated by grooved pilasters carried up to cornice, panelled frieze below. Blocking course. Left and right returns have blind semi-circular rusticated arched windows to first floor of porch and oculi to ground floor. Rear has four sashes with semi-circular headed windows Lighting stairs. Interior of No 400, (No 399 not inspected): Main feature is second floor drawing room with large 6-panelled double doors in grooved case, linking front and back of house; moulded plaster cornice and high skirting boards. First -floor rooms have less elaborate plaster cornice. Part of a spa development in Melksham of c1815 whose success was shortlived. (Melksham Guide 1815; V.C.H. Wiltshire, Vol. 7, 1953)

Listing NGR: ST9139162846