Wares Warehouse (Bridgwater Dock)

Wares Warehouse, located at Bridgwater Dock, is a warehouse built between 1840 and 1850, possibly designed by Thomas Maddicks, the engineer of the docks. It was converted for residential and commercial use in the 1980s. The building features Flemish-bond brickwork with limestone coping along the parapet, a cornice band, quoins, cills for the loading bays, and a rusticated plinth. The roof is a double-pitched hipped slate design, highlighted by parapets and four fire-walls. The warehouse has a rectangular plan and stands four storeys high, with a 15-window range on the north-east facade facing the dock. Each of the five bays has a central recess with full-width cambered arches and stone cill bands, originally for loading, now fitted with 20th-century French windows and railings. Slit windows are located on either side of these bays, and above each recess, there are hoods supported by brackets on the cornice band. The left side of the building features 20th-century two-light casement windows. The south-east facade has four bays that are similar to the front but with French windows that are not recessed and are flanked by 20th-century flat concrete arches leading to two-light casement windows. The interior of the ground floor is occupied by a restaurant, gymnasium, and offices, while the upper floors contain apartments. Originally built in 1841 when the dock was completed, the warehouse initially had three bays, with two added later. It is believed that the bricks used in its construction were made from clay sourced from the dock basin and fired in a brickworks established by the Canal Company to utilize excavation spoil.