Northam House With Boundary Wall

Northam House is a detached house on a corner site in Wells, possibly dating to the late 17th century, with a 18th-century refronting and later modifications. The exterior is rendered over rubble with a simulated ashlar lining, stone dressings that are painted, and a Welsh slate roof with coped gables. Brick chimney stacks rise from the ends.

The main symmetrical front range has two long wings that enclose a narrow courtyard, which has been largely filled in. These wings have steep roofs; the southern wing has a large ridge stack near its outer end. The house is two storeys high with attics, and it has five bays. Features include a plinth, end pilasters, a cornice, and a plain parapet. The windows are plain sashes with exposed boxes in simple openings. In the central bay is a 20th-century door set in a semicircular arched opening with colored leaded glass fanlight. The opening is framed by Doric pilasters supporting a triglyph frieze and pediment. There are two roof dormers with segmental roofs, each containing a 12-pane sash window.

The interior has not been inspected.

A local random rubble stone boundary wall extends from the southeast corner southwards. It starts at first floor sill level, sweeps downwards, and is roughly 2.5 metres high, with plain coping. A boarded gate is located at the south end. The wall is an important feature of the street scene.

The site has a history dating back to the 15th century, with a house that was burnt down between 1402 and 1409, rebuilt around 1515.