Minehead Hospital

MINEHEAD

SS9646 THE PARADE 900-1/3/89 (North side) Minehead Hospital

GV II

Public hall, later a first World War hospital. 1888-9 by Piers St Aubyn. Snecked rubblestone with ashlar dressings, crested slate roof with stone stacks to gable ends and flanking the central gable. Rectangular plan. Gothic Revival style. 2 storeys with attics; symmetrical 6-window range. The 2 central ranges are stepped slightly forward under a high gable with moulded coping and a shield to the apex; a string course steps down at the sides and spans the building below a parapet. The central pointed-arched doorway is flanked by fan-vaulted supports to a canted balcony with pointed-arched panelling. Gauged stone pointed arches and hoodmoulds to two 2-light Decorated-style windows with transoms opening onto the balcony. 3-light flat-arched windows with reticulated tracery to the sides have transoms; above them are substantial original hipped dormers with C20 windows. The right return has 2 large Decorated-style pointed-arched windows. INTERIOR: the reception hall is altered. HISTORY: the Public Hall, the property of a company, was erected in 1888-9 at a cost of about »4,000. The large hall was used for concerts, dramatic performances etc, and sat 550 persons. A visually prominent building by a notable local architect. Included for group value. (Kelly's Directory: London: 1908-: 339).

Listing NGR: SS9696146298