Diocesan Registry

DIOCESAN REGISTRY, 14, MARKET PLACE

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1383016
Date first listed:
12-Nov-1953
List Entry Name:
Diocesan Registry
Statutory Address:
DIOCESAN REGISTRY, 14, MARKET PLACE
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Date:
2007-05-24
Reference:
IOE01/16372/33
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:
1383016
Date first listed:
12-Nov-1953
List Entry Name:
Diocesan Registry
Statutory Address 1:
DIOCESAN REGISTRY, 14, MARKET PLACE

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
DIOCESAN REGISTRY, 14, MARKET PLACE

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 55070 45797

Details

WELLS

ST5445 MARKET PLACE
662-1/7/153 (East side)
12/11/53 No.14
Diocesan Registry

GV II

Offices. Early C20 facade to C15 fabric, formerly a wing to
the Bishop's Eye gatehouse (qv). Doulting ashlar stone, wing
rendered, Broughton Moor slates in diminishing courses, coped
gable to north, abutment to south. C17 style.
PLAN: front range has a staircase to the rear, left, then a
long wing to the right facing S over the green; there is
access also to the upper stages of the adjoining Bishop's Eye.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys and basement, 3 bays. Moulded parapet
string and battlemented parapet. Cruciform ovolo-mould windows
with rectangular leading to all but lower bay 1, with
rectangular leaded panes, entrance in bay 1 having wide
2-panelled door with 2-pane fanlight in ovolo-mould opening to
match; stackhead to left features Diocesan arms, with lead
downpipe.
The wing has a Welsh slate roof between coped gables, and an
ashlar chimney. 2 storeys, seven bays. Sash windows of 8 panes
in plain openings, buttresses with offsets dressed with slate
between bays 2 and 3 and bays 4 and 5. Worn oval niche high in
otherwise plain east gable.
INTERIOR: the ground floor front room has a very large stone
fireplace with moulded 4-centred arch and C18 surround, and
panelling; one cupboard door has a bolection mould architrave.
The C17 dog-leg staircase has a solid string, splat balusters
and square newel; to the right on this floor is access to a
spiral stair in the gatehouse. The first floor principal room
has a large stone fireplace with moulded 4-centred arch plus
bolection mould surround, 2 doorways with 4-centred arches, a
former 4-light (now 2) ovolo-mould casement with stanchion
bars, and 2 deep embrasures. There are some late C17 3-panel
doors. The basement has a stone floor and central beam, and
the roof structure is a C19 queen-post with straps.
The rear wing is plainly detailed; the roof has a series of
pegged collar trusses.
A photograph of 1930 shows the front to the Market Place with
8-pane sashes, and a full-width stopped drip-course.
(Howell C: Wells in Old Photographs: Gloucester: 1989-: 23).


Listing NGR: ST5507345799

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
483434
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Howell, C, Wells in Old Photographs, (1989), 23

Legal

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

Ordnance survey map of Diocesan Registry

Map

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

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.

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