The Cedars

THE CEDARS

A former house, now part of Wells Cathedral School, built around 1758 for Charles Tudway. The building stands on the site of the former College of Montroy, a house of Chantry Priests founded in 1430 and abandoned in the 16th century. Tudway purchased the land with the remains of the Chantry in 1761, although construction was already underway. He subsequently extended the site through further purchases, including land to the south where cedar trees were planted. The building is considered the finest of its period in the city.

EXTERIOR

The house is constructed from Doulting ashlar stonework with a Welsh slate roof between coped gables, behind a parapet, and ashlar chimney stacks. It comprises two storeys with basement and attics, arranged across seven bays. The three central bays are recessed slightly, with single-bay set-back extensions at each end executed in simplified detail. A plinth, cornice, and balustraded parapet frame the composition.

The fenestration includes large sash windows with thick glazing bars in moulded stone architraves. Ground floor windows are 12-pane; those above are 9-pane. Basement windows are segmental-arched in the plinth. Attic windows feature hipped-roofed dormers with sash windows, largely hidden behind the parapets. The central entrance sits on four steps and comprises a pair of part-glazed doors in a stone surround with unfluted Ionic attached columns, full entablature, and pediment.

The side extensions are rendered with plain parapets and hipped lean-to roofs, featuring 9-pane sash windows in plain architraves.

On the west side, a single-storey extension dated 1866 is linked by a high wall crowned with balustrading, possibly intended as an orangery. Built in ashlar with a sheet metal roof between copings behind parapets, it spans four bays with modern glazing. A frieze and cornice run above, and richly carved stone urns ornament the centre and front corners.

The return to College Road includes a first floor canted oriel above a 12-pane sash, a glazed door on two stone steps with a Gibbs surround featuring a prominent triple keystone, and further sashes. To the right, the lower wing displays two wide-spaced segmental-headed sashes above two oculi with radial bars, all in plain stone architraves. Beyond this stands a late 20th century extension in rubble with a sheet metal low-pitched roof.

The rear of the main range spans five bays, with hipped dormers behind the balustrade and 9-pane over 12-pane sashes below, centred on a doorway. Slightly set back to the left are two bays with 12-pane sashes above an extension. To the right, set back with a balustrade, stands one bay with a 9-pane sash over a wide arched opening with idiosyncratic voussoirs, leading to a glazed door on stone steps with side lights under a two-stage fanlight with radial bars. To its right is a single storey bay with balustrade above a similar wide arched opening, but containing a 6-pane light made up of small circular panes. Both of these bays are linked by a moulded string at the arch springing level.

INTERIOR

The ground floor rooms feature exceptionally fine rococo plasterwork by Thomas Stocking. The former entrance hall contains a lofty central white marble fireplace with eared architrave and central apron panel with swags and mantelshelf on consoles. Above is a circular panel containing raised plaster figures of Aeneas and Anchises, flanked by slender dropped swags with further figures, and a series of panels with delicate raised mouldings plus oval panels depicting musical instruments and other devices. Four panelled doors in architraves with panelled linings are set throughout, while the windows, with panelled shutters, feature eared architraves swept at the feet.

The large rear room, now the headmaster's study, forms a double-square with a plastered ceiling featuring a central sunburst, fine wall panels, and a 19th century white marble fireplace. The room to the right of the central hall displays a modillion cornice and large panels, including window shutters and linings, framed in ovolo-mould, a moulded dado rail, and a 19th century white marble fireplace with a Jacobean overmantel bearing a coat of arms and the motto 'Thinke and Thanke'. The door to the central salon features a pulvinated frieze. The room to the left is square, with a rococo ceiling depicting four goddesses amid intertwined decoration, an enriched modillion cornice, and two 6-panel doors with enriched fielded panels, eared architraves, and modillion cornices. A further door in a very deep lining opens to the added conservatory.

The long lateral stair features winders at the foot, a moulded and swept handrail with two turned-on-square balusters per tread, and an octagonal rooflight set within a deep cove with rich plaster embellishment and a modillion cornice with rosettes. The walls are panelled with cable-mould surrounds. The lobby and ante-room include arched openings on fluted pilasters with keystones; a quadripartite plaster groin vault with decorative corner brackets; a deep plain niche to the west; and a Minton tile floor. To the east of the main stair is a large secondary staircase, a dog-leg configuration with solid string, turned-on-square balusters, Doric newels, and a moulded handrail, all painted.

The main first-floor landing features arched openings in three directions on Doric pilasters. This floor retains many original panelled doors. The front centre room includes a rococo frieze to the fireplace, while the end room to the east preserves an 18th century fireplace in eared architrave. One door at the west end of the corridor features diagonal panels and an open pediment.

The attic is plain, though all doors are original fielded 8-panel designs.

An extensive basement contains a series of groined vaults on square piers with impost, set upon a slate floor. A spiral stone staircase in the northwest corner was removed around 1980.

ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS

Extensions were added at each end of the building. Around 1860, a conservatory was constructed to the left. A deep wing was added to the rear in the late 20th century, now serving as a dining room and kitchen.

SETTING

The house is accessed from the rear (north side), though it was formerly entered from the Liberty. A paved forecourt fronts the Liberty, bordered by a kerb, formerly with railings and gates. The paving is laid in setts with stone flag surround and central path.