The Bear Hotel

Details

1. 1042 MARKET PLACE (South-West Side)

The Bear Hotel

ST 9961 2/131 9.4.54.

II* GV

2. The hotel is formed of 2 distinct buildings. The left hand front - late C18, 2 storeys and attic. Delicate front of Bath stone on projecting plinth with angle reeded Ionic pilasters whole height of building, each of half oval plan, and with moulded bases and carved caps. Moulded cornice, parapet with moulded coping. Hipped stone tile roof and 3 pedimented dormers, central segmental. Wide flanking 2-storey angular bay windows, with side lights 3 panes and centre lights 4 panes wide all with stone architrave surrounds. Central 1st floor window of rectangular and diamond glazing pattern in surround of enriched architrave, with curved frieze and cornice and flanked by circular medallions and hanging rope swage. On ground floor - central doubld glazed doors, rectangular and diamond glazing pattern with junction rosettes, in doorcase of stone half reeded Ionic pilasters, half oval plan, with floral necking ornament, carved entablature with oak leaf pattern curved frieze. The door approached by double curving flight of moulded stone steps with stone retaining wall to front supporting a delicate wrot iron verandah porch and with 4-panel standards of diagonal and rectangular pattern with similar panelled head rail and flat curved hipped lead roof. Guard rails across head of retaining wall and between standards of rectangular frame type with horizontal band of circular distance pieces, carried in curved rails down side of steps. Good contemporary stair with wrot iron balustrade. The side wall of this building of brick with chamfered stone quoins and coved plaster cornice. Adjoining right hand block has an early C18 front to earlier probably Cl6/C17 building. 3 storeys and attic. Painted stucco on projecting plinth with rusticated ground floor treatment. String at 1st floor level. Chamfered quoins. Mounlded cornice and parapet with moulded coping. Hipped old tile roof. Large plain rectangular chimneys. 2 gabled dormer casements with architrave frames, half glazed door, of 2 bottom panels and 9 panes, under Doric porch of 2 columns, wall pilasters and entablature, with full sized Bear standing over holding large bunch of grapes,- 2 angular bay windows to right hand of different size, glazing altered, both framed with Doric pilasters and entablature. The main ground floor room of this building has Tuscan wood columns supporting ceiling beams. In the far right hand corner is an C18 staircase and below it the former buffet display cabinet with sash lights and glazing bars, the wall lined with Dutch tiles. Room to right of entrance has 4 centred arched stone chimney piece. The yard at back shows portion of C17/C18 building, irregular and gabled remains of gallery, with a tall 2-fay 2-storey stone Doric order of 3 large columns with entablature of triglyph frieze and modillioned cornice, this is built on to older front and resembles a similar group of columns and entablature which formerly stood in the market place opposite the hotel and supported the Bear sign. At the west end of the range of buildings giving on to yard are the former Assembly Rooms. Originally facing the Market Place and adjoining the Bear Hotel, the building was moved to its present site when the Corn Exchange qv was built in 1856, (viz old photo in Town Hall). Tall early C19 facade of Bath stone raised on brick basement. The front is divided into 3 bays by giant Doric pilasters with moulded caps and bases, resting on block string course. 3 very large recessed sash windows, glazing bars intact, flush keystones over. The ground floor has 3 segmental archways with brick string linking them. Stone keystones reaching up to block string course. Double service doors to centre and right. The left hand door gives on to entrance hall : glazed and panelled double doors with side lights. Segmental fanlight with ornate ironwork. The Bear Hotel was owned by the father of Sir Thomas Lawrence PRA who was himself associated with it.

All the listed buildings on the South-West side, South-East Side of Market Hall, Market Cross and the Fountain form a group.

Also all the listed bulldings on the South-West Side form a group with Nos 1 to 18 (consec) Northgate Street.

Listing NGR: SU0035861448

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

432679

Legacy System:

LBS

End of official list entry

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