Harpers Almshouses

WELLS

ST5445 CHAMBERLAIN STREET 662-1/7/64 (North side) 12/11/53 No.28 Harpers Almshouses

GV II

Almshouse. c1713. Possibly incorporating older fabric. Rendered and colourwashed, triple roll clay tiled roof with tall stepped coped gable to west and abutment to east, brick chimney stacks. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys, 4 bays of irregular fenestration. Plinth, timber casement windows with iron-framed opening lights, some modern: bay 1 has a 2-light below and 3-light above, bay 2 has a single and a double light below and a 3-light above, and bays 3 and 4 have 2-light ovolo-mould stone mullioned windows without labels, all windows being rectangular leaded. Entrance in bay 3, with C20 door in plain opening. Set under the front chimney stack, a plaque in a recess with square hoodmould, which reads: "Glory to God/Mr Archibald Harper one/of the eight masters & in/the year 1702 Mayor of/this city did by his last/Will and Testament settle/This house and 500 upon/Trustees for the perpetual/use and maintenance of 5/poor men old decayed/ Wool-combers of this/City of Wells/Mr Harper died May 11/1713/Blessed are the merciful/Matt 5.7." INTERIOR: not inspected. The almshouse was built on the site of Archibald Harper's own house. (Scott Holmes T: Wells and Glastonbury: London: 1908-).

Listing NGR: ST5475345822