7, SADLER STREET

Details

WELLS

ST5445 SADLER STREET
662-1/7/218 (West side)
12/11/53 No.7

GV II*

Offices, formerly house. Mainly C17 with some evidence for C15
fabric, with C19 and C20 modification. Timber-frame, jettied,
rendered and colourwashed, Welsh slate roofs, brick chimney
stacks.
PLAN: original plan may have been single-depth range at right
angles to street, with main heated rooms to the right (N)
side, and with a long wing to the left overlooking a
courtyard, and return wing across the back; probably a through
passage to the left. The original stair in a semi-cylindrical
well near the rear. 2 unequal gables face the street.
EXTERIOR: 3 storeys, two bays. Splendid late C18 or early C19
shop front across ground floor, slightly projecting under lead
flat roof and timber cornice; on left a 6-panel door giving
access to passage, then two 32-pane windows with canted ends
containing much crown glass and between these a pair of
matching glazed doors.
Upper floors have canted bay windows with cornice, continued
across to link windows, and 2-course slate roofs to first
floor, and hipped slate roofs to second floor, C17 windows
with ovolo moulds, 1+3+1 light each, with transoms almost at
mid-point of windows, with turned balusters to corners on
console brackets. Between windows at first floor-level a pair
of C17 two-panel doors with diamond-leaded fanlight over,
slightly narrower than doorway, with ornamental plasterwork
around this item. Double projecting sign at first floor level
between windows, on probably C19 brackets with long stays.
INTERIOR: the ground floor front room left has a deep
embrasure in the party wall, either a former fireplace, or a
door connecting to the adjoining property, and the room to the
right has a thick rear wall, rebuilt, and a central lateral
beam on a jowelled post with chamfer and run-out stops. A room
to the rear has 2 deep C16 or C17 beams to stepped run-out
stops. Towards the rear is a wide stair in curved well, with
small lantern over. The first-floor landing has a C17
three-light casement with fixed glass, and opposite this a C17
small panel door.
The first-floor front was originally one full-width room, with
a 4-compartment ceiling, now with dividing partition; the
central beam bears on the window head. The N end has a stone
fireplace with deep lintel, and to its left a further C17
small-panel door. The stair hall has various beams. The upper
staircase is late C17, with pulvinated solid string and splat
balustrade, but the balustrade missing from the lowest 4
steps. At the quarter landing are remains of multi-light
casement window with evidence of cusping.
The second-floor front has in the N room a deep stone
fireplace with splayed surround, and a very deep boxed central
beam; to the S room is an C18 2-panel door with a 9-pane
top-light with thick glazing bars.
The roof had high collars, now removed, and butt purlins, some
with chamfers and run-out stops.
The development of this building needs further study. The
shop-front is a particularly interesting survival.
(Vernacular Architecture Group Reports: Williams and Hale:
Taunton: 1988-).

Listing NGR: ST5495045778

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

483499

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Williams, , Hale, , Vernacular Architecture Group Report in Vernacular Architecture Group Report, (1988)

End of official list entry

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