23, Market Place

WELLS

ST5445 MARKET PLACE 662-1/7/160 (North side) 12/11/53 No.23 (Formerly Listed as: MARKET PLACE (North side) Nos.3-25 (Odd))

GV II*

House with shop. c1453, built as part of the "New Works" by Bishop Bekynton, modified in C19. Ashlar stonework colourwashed, Welsh slate roof behind parapet, brick chimney stack. EXTERIOR: 3 storeys, single wide bay. Ground floor has very fine mid C19 projecting shop front (shared with No.21 (qv)) over about two-thirds of facade, with 2-light display windows over stall riser with ornamental cast-iron vents, with panelled pilasters and return on right side, cast-iron window mullions, shallow fascia and cornice with shop blind on console brackets. Details continued on both return and remainder of facade, where there is a glazed door with semicircular radially glazed fanlight. Upper floors appear to have lost the former bay windows; the first floor has a composite sash window of 18+36+18 panes in plain reveals, the second floor a 2-light 8-pane casement. Traces of a medieval moulding (on a rake above the doorway, and of the medieval string course below the parapet, pierced by second-floor window, downpipe with hopper-head to the left. Stack on raised and coped verge to the left. INTERIOR: ground floor re modelled in C20, rear wall contains chamfered stone 4-centred doorway, and in the rear section a glass panel in the wall reveals a lower watercourse. Early C18 stair to first floor, turned balusters (but alternate balusters removed) and capped newels, dado-rail to wall, swept, and with wreathed foot. First floor has variety of moulded and chamfered beams. Upper stair is C20, and top floor has timber-framed and plastered E party wall, and fireplace in W wall; the rear wall has a small pointed light at the eaves. 2-bay roof with arch-braced trusses, chamfered wind-braces and 2 chamfered purlins. There is a cellar under the front part of the shop. Part of an outstanding late medieval planned urban group. (Buildings of England: Pevsner N: North Somerset and Bristol: London: 1958-: 328).

Listing NGR: ST5504445817