The Priory

The Priory, formerly known as Priory Court House, is a building dating from the 15th century that has been modified over time and is now used as offices. It features locally sourced stone that is cut and squared on the ground floor, while the first floor has a jettied timber frame covered with rendering that is ashlar lined. The roof is made of stone slate and is set between stepped coped gables, with brick chimney stacks at either end. The building stands two storeys high with attics and has six bays with irregular window arrangements.

On the ground floor, there are timber frame windows with ovolo moulding and plain sash inserts, along with label moulds above. The first bay has a four-light window, while the fourth and sixth bays each have three-light windows. There is a chamfered cambered arch doorway with a 19th-century part-glazed door in the second bay, and a similar door in the fifth bay. The ends and center of the first floor feature corbelled pilasters with carved animals that support heraldic shields, which are said to refer to John Henton, Prior of Bruton, who served from 1448 to 1498. Between these are cover moulds for the projecting end beams and a cill string course, along with some moulded vertical posts, all made of timber. The upper bay one has a three-light oriel window with plain sashes, while the other upper windows are two-light ovolo mould frames with plain sashes, also under label mouldings. There are two 20th-century pitched roof dormers with small pane windows in the roof.

The interior has not been seen, but it is reported to have jowled posts that support the first-floor ceiling beams and a frayed ceiling with double roll moulding at the west end. The roof features tenoned purlins and curved windbraces, although much of the internal work has been rearranged in the 19th century.