The Old Almshouse

THE OLD ALMSHOUSE, CHAMBERLAIN STREET, WELLS

Almshouses begun in 1436, extended in 1614 and 1638, with major restoration in 1884. Built from local stone rubble with Doulting stone dressings, Welsh slate roofs with stone ridge and coped gables, and tall ashlar chimney stacks on rubble bases.

The building has a complex plan comprising a medieval north wing with attached wings extending southwards (added in 1884 and 1614), a detached south range of 1638, and an additional detached central block apparently of 1884.

The north wing, which contains the hall, chapel, and rooms, is single storey with attics and presents an elevation of 13 bays to Chamberlain Street. Bays 1 and 2 form the chapel, dating from the 15th-century foundation. The chapel has a large 5-light Perpendicular east window, heavily restored, with a small single-light window with chamfered surround on the north side and a 3-light cinquefoil cusped window to bay 2.

Bay 3 has a projecting gabled entrance porch with a pair of doors set within a 4-centred arch with plain spandrels and square label under a statue niche. A cast-iron footscraper stands to the left of the doorway.

Bays 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 have 2-light chamfer-mullioned windows, probably 19th-century restorations, with small-pane iron leaded casements; attic windows have small gablets with carved finials and tall chimney stacks between each pair. Bay 8 has one similar window at mezzanine level. Bays 11, 12 and 13 are taller and form the hall, which had a second floor inserted around 1850. A bell turret is located to the east gable. The upper bay 13 has a 2-light cinquefoil cusped window. The west gable of the hall displays a 3-light Perpendicular tracery window at first-floor level, with a 20th-century door and window below. Beyond this are the first of two 1884 wings, replacing a 1614 wing, with a second wing behind it.

The south range of 1638 is of remarkable design, small in scale, one storey with attic, arranged in 5 bays with a symmetrical elevation facing the churchyard of St Cuthbert. It has 2-light ovolo-mould mullioned windows with labels to upper bays 2 and 4 and lower bays 1, 2, 4 and 5. Between bays 1 and 2 and bays 4 and 5 are cambered-arched doorways with labels and square recesses with labels over. Bay 3 contains an ornamental 4-seat sedilia with a mixture of Gothic and Classical detailing. To the left of this range stands a free-standing range of 1884 with its gable to the south, including a commemorative tablet indicating replacement of a 1614 building.

The chapel interior has a 4-bay roof of heavy moulded arch-braced trusses carried on octagonal posts to stone corbels, with 3 purlins and 4 ranges of curved wind-braces. In the first 3 bays the purlins are moulded; in bay 4 they are chamfered and stopped. This roof construction continues westward beyond the chapel. The 5-light east window dates from around 1850 and was made by Bell of Bristol. The lower part of the screen at the west end has 17th-century panels. To the right of the chapel entry is a bay with late 20th-century staircase and sub-division. The private rooms are not accessible, though considerable 19th and 20th-century modification has been made. The chapel roof has shafts supporting the truss foot similar to but more elaborate than those at The Rib at 3 St Andrew Street.

The original buildings were built in 1436 from an endowment by Bishop Bubwith (died 1424) and accommodated 12 inmates. They were extended following Bishop John Still's (died 1608) bequest in 1614, and again in 1638 for four people. Various 18th and 19th-century benefactions followed, with major additions in 1884. The range of buildings closes off the north side of St Cuthbert's churchyard and, like the Vicars Close and The Rib, was heated by fireplaces.