1-13, Vicars Close Wells, England

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WELLS

ST5445 VICARS' CLOSE 662-1/7/332 (East side) 12/11/53 Nos.1-13 (Consecutive)

GV I

Terrace of 13 houses, originally 21. From c1360, for Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury, the chimney shafts renewed in C15, probably for Bishop Bekynton, and various rear extensions of C16, C17 and C18; considerable refenestration and replacement of doors in C18 and early C19. Major restoration 1976 to 1983, recorded on a plaque on boundary wall (qv) near S end. Rough squared local rubble, Doulting ashlar dressings and chimney shafts, slate to front roof slopes, pantile generally to rear. PLAN: each house originally had a ground-floor hall approx 6m x 4m, with projecting winder stair to rear leading to upper hall of the same size, both with fireplace in front wall. Each property had a rear door through a squint opening to a small enclosed yard, and possibly a latrine under the staircase. All subject to alteration from C15, when some houses knocked through and made into larger dwellings. Few plans remain unchanged, and there have been various combinations and additions-some interiors and layouts are described below. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys, some attics, variously 2 or 4 bays, but Nos 10 and 11 in three bays, mainly 12-pane sashes, many with early C18 bars. No.9 also has an early 2-light casement with leading at first floor in an adapted opening, and two 16-pane sashes at ground floor. No.13 has 1 and 2-light stone mullion and transom casements with cusping, and plain square casements to the first floor. Doors are 4- or 6-panel, some with transom-lights. There are various remains of flush surrounds to former door and window openings, and a moulded stone eaves course is interrupted by the external stacks, 21 in all, which have square lower sections carrying octagonal shafts with an open fretted capping. Each stack has 2 square stone panels with heraldic shields. INTERIORS: the following were inspected: No.1: formerly a larger property, extending through to St Andrew Street, but now with continuous party wall between two parts (No.1, St Andrew Street qv). Narrow entrance hall to right, single room left, rear wing and inserted kitchen at ground floor. The front room has, in its rear wall, a deep embrasure and rere arch to the blocked former casement, a deep niche with cinquefoil head to spandrel, and a blocked 4-centred arch to the former doorway, all these with structural stonework exposed. There is a lateral beam with small chamfer. A deep plastered arch gives to the early rear range, and under the staircase is an early plank door to a space with a square stone pier with broad corbelled capital built in to the party division. The straight-flight stair, with winders to the upper landing, has a late C18 chinoiserie balustrade. At first floor the front room has a C17 three-plank door opening from the rear wall to a former stair well, now floored, with an external slit light. The roof space is floored, but not accessible, and has 2 bays of complete framing with 2 purlins, arch-braced principals, and wind-bracing, but no brattished plate-usual in the roofs to Vicars' Close-is visible. Also all members, unusually, are unpainted and untreated. No.5: this property is in two occupations, split horizontally, and the upper floor only was inspected. The central open well C18 stair has slender turned balusters and moulded handrail, but the landing return is in chinoiserie. Above the landing in the S wall is a built-in beam on 3 brackets. At first floor, right, the large room has 2 early C18 twelve-pane sashes, with much early glass, and a C19 fireplace in the party wall. In the rear wall is the embrasure, rere-arch, and upper part of the original cusped 2-light casement; to its right is a wide segmental arch in rough voussoirs and to a deep intrados, to a small rear wing, with 8-pane sash and shutters to the gable wall. The other front room has a 4-compartment ceiling with small moulded bead divisions, a 6-panel fielded door, and,