The Sherston Inn

The Sherston Inn is an inn dating from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, situated in Wells. It is constructed of roughly squared and coursed local stone with ashlar dressings, and has a hipped Welsh slate roof hidden behind parapets. Double Roman clay tiles are visible between the coped gables of an extension, and ashlar and brick chimney stacks are present.

The building's plan incorporates a double-depth layout with an open-well staircase to the rear left. A later 19th-century gabled range is positioned to the left, and across the rear, forming an 'L' shape, is a steep-roofed gabled wing with end stacks, possibly of earlier origin.

The north-facing (roadside) elevation, of three bays, features a gable end belonging to the later extension. This section has an angled bay window with a flat roof to the ground floor, featuring 8-, 12- and 8-pane sash windows. Above this is a deep, painted signboard that projects into the gable, topped with a chimney stack. Bays 2 and 3 have a plinth, rusticated quoins, a cornice and a plain parapet. The lower bay 3 has a 16-pane sash window in a plain architrave, and the upper bay 2 has a 12-pane sash window, with a painted blind window to match in the upper bay 3. The entrance to bay 2 features a pair of 3-panelled doors with a large 2-pane rectangular fanlight, framed by Doric pilasters and a pediment. The west elevation, to the later 19th-century extension on the left, mirrors the design with three bays, 12- and 9-pane sash windows and, in the centre bay, a door with a rectangular fanlight and flat hood. Lean-to extensions are present on the rear south side. The east elevation consists of a gable end and three bays, with a lean-to against the gable. A 12-pane sash window is found in the lower bay 1, there is no window in bay 3, and 4-pane sash windows are found on the first floor, all set within brick surrounds. A doorway with a fanlight is present in bay 2, accompanied by a small 2-pane casement to the right.

The ground floor has been opened up to form a restaurant area, incorporating mainly late 20th-century fittings. However, the principal space retains four niched openings and a moulded ceiling cornice. The fireplaces at both ends have been covered over. A stick balustrade is present on the staircase. The upper floor retains 6-panel moulded doors within fluted architraves with patera. Room 6 has a mid-19th-century fluted fire surround over an arched cast-iron grate, while room 8 features a smaller, more decorative version.

The inn was formerly known as The Railway Inn. The former railway track was removed in the mid-20th century and is now part of a by-pass road.