The former Tread-wheel House at HMP Shepton Mallet

MATERIALS: exposed rubble limestone with stone ashlar dressings and a slate roof.

PLAN: a rectangular plan, formerly with wheel and gear wheels arranged vertically and accessed via a series of yards to the front, with hospital rooms above.

EXTERIOR: the front elevation of the tread-wheel house has a row of ten segmental arches at ground-floor level which formerly opened up to a series of walled yards that ran along the full length of the front of the building, and could be overlooked by guards from a stone inspection terrace. The prisoners accessed the six sections of the tread-wheel from the yards, the positions of which are marked by six large segmental arches at first-floor level (now closed off). The first floor is accessed via steps to the centre and the corners of the building leading to a gallery that runs along the entire width of the building, probably roughly at the height where prisoners would have accessed the wheel. The stone rubble wall, enclosing the left-hand stairs, may have formed part of the former walls to the yards. To either side of the six large arches, is a narrow opening, each giving access to a stair leading to the former infirmary on the third floor. This floor has eleven, multi-paned windows, set above the string-course, including three taller window openings to the centre, which were probably inserted at a later date.

The rear elevation of the tread-wheel house and its north end are blind, the latter forming part of the prison’s perimeter wall. The south end has a wedge-shaped lean-to rising up to just under the eaves, with a central, segmental-arched doorway to the ground floor and two narrow vents set under the eaves. The rear of the lean-to forms part of the perimeter wall (formerly rising up to the eaves of the tread-wheel house).

INTERIOR: the tread-wheel house was converted into offices in the early-C20, at which point a floor was inserted at the current first-floor level. Arches marking the position of the former tread-wheels remain visible inside the building. The arches at ground-floor level are used for storage. No further fixtures and fittings of note survive on the ground and first floor. The top floor (the former infirmary), was not inspected, though the stairs leading to it, on either side of the building, survive.