COURT HOUSE

COURT HOUSE, 48 AND 50, ST JAMES'S STREET

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1056954
Date first listed:: 19-Apr-1961
List Entry Name:: COURT HOUSE
Statutory Address:: COURT HOUSE, 48 AND 50, ST JAMES'S STREET

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Date:: 2003-03-20
Reference:: IOE01/10252/30
Rights:: © Mr John H. Sparkes. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1056954
Date first listed:: 19-Apr-1961
List Entry Name:: COURT HOUSE
Statutory Address 1:: COURT HOUSE, 48 AND 50, ST JAMES'S STREET

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: COURT HOUSE, 48 AND 50, ST JAMES'S STREET

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Somerset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: South Petherton
National Grid Reference:: ST 43212 17051

Details

SOUTH PETHERTON CP ST JAMES'S STREET (East side) ST4317 6/158 Nos 48 and 50 (Court House) 19.4.61

GV II*

Detached house, later subdivided. C16 and C17, extended C18, with other modifications. Ham stone, mostly ashlar; Welsh slate roofs with coped gables to north crosswing, otherwise plain gabled; stone chimney stacks. 'T'-plan with additions; 2 storeys, 6 bay west elevation. Bay 1 is the medieval crosswing, projecting for 3 bays, and features an angled 2-storey bay window, probably C18, with small-pane sash windows of 12+18+12 panes to both levels, with moulded cills, cornice heads, pilaster strips, with stepped hipped stone roof over, and crowned with a pair of barley-sugar-twist chimneys: return has two 3-light hollow-chamfer mullioned windows in chamfered recesses without labels, rectangular-leaded, to first floor; and below, to bay 1 an early sash window of 32 panes with thick glazing bars, having hood and all to match the bay window; bay 2 has a similar opening without hood, with later 12-pane sash window, and between is a beaded surround doorway, now blocked. Bay 2 is a gabled projection with finial; below is a blocked segmental-arched opening with segmental-relieving arch over, and above is a 3-light hollow-chamfer mullioned window in wave-mould recess with label, rectangular-leaded; against the return a late C20 lean-to porch. The remaining 4 bays are a C18 wing, with plinth, moulded eaves course, and in centre of ridge a moulded cornice base and two octagonal stone chimneys with moulded caps; to ground floor are 12-pane sash windows and above are tall 24-pane sashes, all having recessed architraves and moulded cills; to right of bay 4 a plain boarded door in heavy frame. Extending forwards from the south-west corner a single-storey building (no 46) not of special interest. Set well back from the road a further extension northwards, of 2 storeys, one bay. Interior not seen, but the C18 wing is reported to have original corner-fireplaces, moulded p1asterwork, and an apparently C18 staircase in the bay between the crosswing and the south wing; the crosswing has C17 and C18 panelling, and dividing partitions of timber frames with daub filling on horizontal rods, deep chamfered beams without steps, two 4-centre-arched doorways; roof trusses mostly renewed but one smoke-blackened collar truss survives. This house probably served as the court house from 1540, but although the arrangement of the upper room of the south wing suggests a first-floor courtroom with separate access on south side, the courts appear to have been held in the Crown Inn, in the Square, by the C18. (VCH, Vol III, l974; VAG Report, unpublished SR0, l976).

Listing NGR: ST4321217051

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 264243
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Page, W, The Victoria History of the County of Somerset, (1974)
'Vernacular Architecture Group Report' in Vernacular Architecture Group Report, (1976)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.