Harpers Almshouses
HARPERS ALMSHOUSES, 28, CHAMBERLAIN 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:
- 1382934
- Date first listed:
- 12-Nov-1953
- List Entry Name:
- Harpers Almshouses
- Statutory Address:
- HARPERS ALMSHOUSES, 28, CHAMBERLAIN STREET
Location
Location of this list entry and nearby places that are also listed. Use our map search to find more listed places.
Use of this mapping is subject to terms and conditions .
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.
What is the National Heritage List for England?
The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public.
The list includes:
 |
Buildings |
 |
Scheduled monuments |
 |
Parks and gardens |
 |
Battlefields |
 |
Shipwrecks |
Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2004-08-10
- Reference:
- IOE01/12859/06
- Rights:
- © Mr John Chester. Source: Historic England Archive
Local Heritage Hub
Unlock and explore hidden histories, aerial photography, and listed buildings and places for every county, district, city and major town across England.
Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1382934
- Date first listed:
- 12-Nov-1953
- List Entry Name:
- Harpers Almshouses
- Statutory Address 1:
- HARPERS ALMSHOUSES, 28, CHAMBERLAIN STREET
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- HARPERS ALMSHOUSES, 28, CHAMBERLAIN STREET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Somerset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Wells
- National Grid Reference:
- ST 54753 45822
Details
WELLS
ST5445 CHAMBERLAIN STREET
662-1/7/64 (North side)
12/11/53 No.28
Harpers Almshouses
GV II
Almshouse. c1713. Possibly incorporating older fabric.
Rendered and colourwashed, triple roll clay tiled roof with
tall stepped coped gable to west and abutment to east, brick
chimney stacks.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys, 4 bays of irregular fenestration. Plinth,
timber casement windows with iron-framed opening lights, some
modern: bay 1 has a 2-light below and 3-light above, bay 2 has
a single and a double light below and a 3-light above, and
bays 3 and 4 have 2-light ovolo-mould stone mullioned windows
without labels, all windows being rectangular leaded. Entrance
in bay 3, with C20 door in plain opening. Set under the front
chimney stack, a plaque in a recess with square hoodmould,
which reads: "Glory to God/Mr Archibald Harper one/of the
eight masters & in/the year 1702 Mayor of/this city did by his
last/Will and Testament settle/This house and 500
upon/Trustees for the perpetual/use and maintenance of 5/poor
men old decayed/ Wool-combers of this/City of Wells/Mr Harper
died May 11/1713/Blessed are the merciful/Matt 5.7."
INTERIOR: not inspected.
The almshouse was built on the site of Archibald Harper's own
house.
(Scott Holmes T: Wells and Glastonbury: London: 1908-).
Listing NGR: ST5475345822
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 483337
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Scott Holmes, T, Wells and Glastonbury, (1908)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 04-Jul-2026 at 11:42:39.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.