The Star Hotel

WELLS

ST5445 HIGH STREET 662-1/7/90 (North side) 12/11/53 No.14 The Star Hotel

GV II

Hotel. C16 and C17 with late C18 front. Rendered and colourwashed, pantile roofs, brick stacks. PLAN: the layout has been much modified over a long period, and is difficult to read. The main front range has 3 full-height plain gables to the rear, and a central wide carriageway through the ground floor, to a long narrow courtyard with long wings to either side. That to the right (E) is in 3 stepped gabled sections, one of these with a steep-pitched roof. There is no major staircase, but a dog-leg in the left half, and a second stair in the right. EXTERIOR: 3 storeys, 4 wide bays. Plinth, side pilasters, cornice, shallow parapet, ground floor has composite sash windows of 4+12+4 panes to bays 1, 3 and 4, and a throughway to bay 2, having a wide elliptical arch over which is set a cantilevered hood of considerable projection, of timber with lead cladding and a wrought-iron balcony with underbrackets, older pattern lanterns mounted on either side of archway. To upper floors are sash windows with exposed sash boxes to all bays, large in scale with square panes, 12 to first-floor units and 9 to second floor, between the two sets of windows a long rendered panel with bold raised sans-serif capitals inscribed "Star Hotel"; simple projecting hanging sign at first floor level between bays 2 and 3. The wing to the left has, facing the courtyard, various lights, including a triple 12-pane sash with wide mullion boxes, a paired 12-pane horizontal sliding sash, and 2 modified horizontal sashes at first floor. Opposite, in the right wings, is a 16-pane, and a paired 9-pane sash with small panes and some early glass. INTERIOR: the front left reception area has three C16 moulded beams and a C20 brick fireplace; behind is an C18 or early C19 dog-leg stair with turned newels, and stick balustrade returned across the landing. At the rear a low-ceiled lounge has C20 panelling, and 3 C17 chamfered and stopped beams; below this section is a cellar with a series of brick and stone rectangular piers carrying a broad central beam. Front right, ground floor has 2 deep chamfered lateral beams, with later props. The rear wing includes a large 16-pane sash to the staircase, and over room 20 the roof includes wind-bracing and original purlins. The courtyard is paved in large lias setts, many of them with a high polish from continued use. A major coaching inn which has been continuously up-dated to maintain a position in the changing hotel trade in the city.

Listing NGR: ST5492345755