Williton Hospital

ST04SE WILLITON CP LONG STREET (North side)

2/231 No 51 (Williton Hospital) (Previously listed as No 57)

22.5.69

GV II*

Workhouse now hospital, largely disused. 1838- 40 by George Gilbert Scott and William Moffatt for the Williton Poor Law Union. ashlar Bath stone entrance range, othwerwise squared and coursed red sandstone rubble, hipped slate roofs, brick stacks. Cruciform plan: central octagonal 4 storey block flanked by long 3 storey wings, linked by single storey ramps to entrance range with central pedimented gateway, single storey courtyard range at rear. Entrance range; single storey, 11 bays including central semi-circular arched opening, pedimented top, pilaster strips dividing bays, penultimate outer 2 bays break forward with hipped roofs, 12 pane sash windows, 16 pane sash window, projecting bays left, paired pointed arched openings in right 4 bays comprising chapel, entrances on inner walls of archway. Main range: octagonal 4 storey tower with 2 angled pedimented faces, coped verges, on facade, 2 to rear string, course with pilasters distinguish upper storey, 16 pane sash widows, 12 pane sash window on re-entrant angles, octagonal wooden lantern. flanked by 7 bay wings, end 2 bays breaking forward with hipped roof, mixed C19 fenestration, mostly many paned pivotal windows. Interior not viewed. The Williton Poor Law Union was forged in 1836; this is one of the best surving examples of the many workhouses built by Scott and Moffatt. (VCH Somerset, vol 5, forthcoming; photographs in NMR).

Listing NGR: ST0823141410