The Old Deanery

The Old Deanery, Wells

A former deanery, now Diocesan Offices, located on the north side of Cathedral Green in Wells. The building originated in the 12th century but was largely rebuilt by Dean Gunthorpe during his tenure in office from 1472 to 1498. It was subsequently remodelled and had its south range refenestrated by Dean Bathurst in the late 17th century.

The structure is built of ashlar stonework with some rendering on the east flank, topped with a Welsh slate roof behind parapets and ashlar chimney stacks. A gateway from the north side of the cathedral close provides access to an outer court, which is flanked on the west by a square building of four ranges enclosing an inner courtyard, now built over. The eastern hall range features a porch and screens, subdivided into separate rooms in the mid-17th century. The southern block overlooking the close contained an important suite of rooms at first-floor level, distinguished by larger windows, with newel staircases housed in turrets at each end. Dean Gunthorpe's personal suite occupied the north side at first-floor level, served by an enclosed straight staircase at its western end.

The south front facing Cathedral Green consists of two storeys and six bays, predominantly 15th-century work. However, it incorporates highly significant early surviving examples of late 17th-century sash windows, each containing 15 panes with thick glazing bars set in moulded stone architraves. The front features a plinth, parapet string with gargoyles, and a crenellated parapet carved with shields and Tudor Rose motifs on the merlons. Buttresses with two offsets separate the bays, and octagonal corner turrets rise from square bases with panelled upper sections and panelled conical roofs topped with finials.

The east elevation to the courtyard is similar in character but lacks buttresses. This two-storey front of four bays is predominantly late 15th-century, with a rampart to the south end and a further three-storey bay at the north end set back from the main line. Ground-floor bays 1, 2, and 3 have ovolo-mould mullioned and transomed three-light windows with varied leaded glazing, above which are 15-pane sash windows with thick glazing bars and moulded stone architraves. Bay 4 is a slightly projecting porch with a moulded four-centred arch housing a 17th-century door, above which sits a square recessed panel with an iron light bracket, followed by a transomed mullioned two-light window and an oculus set in the parapet gable. The south return displays two two-light windows. Bay 5 at the north end is a taller end gable set back, featuring a two-light mullioned window at second-floor level within an older opening and a similar window at first-floor level, complemented by a projecting flat-roofed extension at ground-floor level with a five-light mullioned and transomed window and an ornamented crenellated parapet.

The west elevation continues the circa 1700 treatment of the south front. The north elevation represents almost entirely medieval work, featuring a tower to the north-west corner and five bays. Bay 1 to the north-east elevation contains a single two-light transomed four-centre-arched window to the first floor and a pair of sash windows below, with later doorways at lower ground-floor level and a massive projecting chimney breast. Bay 2 has a two-light window above and a medieval-style oriel window below, possibly circa 1750. Bay 3 contains two large four-light windows with a small two-light window at lower ground-floor level. Bay 5 has another two-light window at upper ground level.

Internally, the main hall is positioned at first-floor level on the north side, now known as the Bradfield Room. It preserves a fine late 15th-century fireplace, its original screen, and an oriel window on the south side with a fan vault ceiling, now internal as the inner courtyard has been infilled with additional rooms. Above this chamber lies another major room, reputed to have been used by Henry VII during a visit in 1497. The major room on the first floor of the south range, now serving as the main committee room, was panelled in the late 17th century by Dean Bathurst, who had Oxford connections with Sir Christopher Wren. The panelling features broad coupled Ionic pilasters. Fine staircases serve both of these major chambers, and the building throughout contains many moulded beams and other features of medieval and late 17th-century date.