11, The Liberty

11 The Liberty is a former Canonical house, now part of Wells Cathedral Junior School. It dates from the early to mid 18th century, with an extension added in 1879. The building is constructed of random coursed local stone rubble with Doulting ashlar dressings and features a Welsh slate roof behind tall parapets, along with ashlar chimney stacks. The layout is symmetrical with a double-depth plan and a central staircase hall; the 19th-century extension includes a new sitting room and cottage.

The exterior has two storeys and a basement, with three wide bays. The outer bays are full-height shallow canted bays with windows on each facet. There is a parapet band and a plain parapet. All windows are 12-pane sashes set in moulded stone architraves with keystones. The central entrance features a 6-panel door flanked by 8-pane sash sidelights, arranged as a Venetian opening with Doric pilasters, an entablature over the window, and a semicircular radially-glazed fanlight with a hood over the door. There are extensions to the rear on the left side.

Inside, the stone-flagged hall has contemporary dado panelling and a triple-arched screen with architraves, keystones, and imposts leading to the staircase, which has three turned balusters on each tread. The ground floor to the left has a wide blocked elliptical arch leading to a recess, while the room to the right features a wide pair of doors with fielded panels. One upper room contains a fireplace with an eared architrave. The basement has wide segmental groined vaults made of rough-set stonework.

Historically, the property is first recorded in 1375, and in 1660 it was occupied by William Busby, who later became headmaster of Westminster School. In 1969, the property was leased to the Cathedral School.