Wells Infirmary Main Block (Also Known As Priory Hospital)

The Wells Infirmary main block, also known as the Priory Hospital, is a former workhouse built in 1845 by ST Welch, with extensions dating to 1871. The building is constructed from local stone with squared and coursed blocks, ashlar dressings, and Welsh slate roofs featuring coped gables and brick chimney stacks.

The building’s exterior is predominantly two storeys, with a three-storey central crossing on the south elevation spanning 15 bays. Bays 1 and 15, and the central bays 6 to 10, project slightly. The design adopts a Tudor style. Angled corner buttresses with single offsets and pinnacles are present on bays 1 and 15, with gables also featuring central pinnacles. A band course runs to the first-floor sills, and single-light, 4-centre arched windows with arched labels are found on both floors, although steel casements have been inserted. Trefoil panels are incorporated into the gables.

Bays 2 to 5 and 11 to 14 exhibit rectangular windows with square labels. The projecting central bays display corner buttresses and pinnacles, with bays 7 and 9 canted, bay 8 having the greatest projection and rising three storeys. The first floor of bays 7 and 9 contains plain windows while bays 6 and 10 have plain doorways and the first-floor windows are mostly 2-light ‘Y’-traceried with transoms and arched labels, with bay 8 featuring a matching 4-light window. The second-floor windows to this section have square windows set in the splays, topped by another 4-light window to bay 8, above which is a statue recess in the pinnacled gable.

The main entrance in bay 8 features a pair of panelled doors set within a 4-centre arched opening, flanked by two lancet windows. A pediment hood supported by brackets and an wrought-iron bracket for a light are positioned above the entrance, which is approached by 5 steps with a simple wrought-iron handrail.

The side crosswings have 12-pane sash windows in segmental arched openings. A Red Cross medical loan store, linked by a short wing, sits attached to the north end of the west wing. The taller central crosswing comprises five bays, canted ends and an octagonal tower centrally, with a matching five-bay unit northwards; the majority of these bays have sash windows in segmental arched openings.

The interior was not inspected.