List Entry Summary
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Name: ROYAL CLARENCE HOUSE
List Entry Number: 1206472
Location
8, HIGH STREET
ROYAL CLARENCE HOUSE, HIGH STREET
ROYAL CLARENCE HOUSE, YORK BUILDINGS
The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
County:
District: Somerset
District Type: Unitary Authority
Parish: Bridgwater
National Park: Not applicable to this List entry.
Grade: II
Date first listed: 24-Mar-1950
Date of most recent amendment: 31-Jan-1994
Legacy System Information
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System: LBS
UID: 373911
Asset Groupings
This List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official record but are added later for information.
List Entry Description
Summary of Building
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Reasons for Designation
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
History
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Details
BRIDGWATER
ST2937SE HIGH STREET
736-1/10/94 (North side)
24/03/50 No.8
and Royal Clarence House
(Formerly Listed as:
HIGH STREET
(North side)
Royal Clarence Hotel incorporating
No.8)
GV II
Hotel. c1834, converted into shopping centre in 1980s.
Probably by Benjamin Baker. Painted Flemish-bond brick, stone
blocking course, cornice (repaired with wood), cills and
porch; pantile roof with brick stacks to right and centre of
ridge. L-shaped plan.
3 storeys with attic; 17-window range to High Street and York
Buildings. Four C20 dormers to the front. The High Street
facade is symmetrical 6-window range, a curved bay to the
right-hand corner has 2 windows and the rest are on the right
return in York Street.
The main block of 9 windows has a cornice and blocking course;
3/6-pane sashes to second floor and 6/9-panes to full-height
sashes on first floor, except 2 to right which have higher
cills and that to far right is blind.
To centre of street front is a portico with paired Ionic
columns and late C19 cast-iron railings above; to centre is a
low-relief cast-iron plaque of the town arms with a castle on
a bridge, a star and a fleur-de-lys, to left the words
"R.C.Mayor", to right "Esq"; it was formerly on the old
cast-iron Town Bridge (qv). The moulding of cornice of portico
continues across main building as a string course.
No.8 to left, now part of the hotel, has separate stucco
facade of similar date with painted stone cornices, blocking
course, pilasters, cill band and dressings.
4 storeys; symmetrical one-window range. Above the C20 shop
front a semicircular recess with moulded archivolt and imposts
frames a 6/3-pane sash window, probably formerly 6/6-panes
truncated by the shop fascia; above is a 3/6-pane sash, both
flanked by pilasters supporting a substantial cornice. Attic
storey has a 3/3-pane sash window, panelled pilasters, cornice
and blocking course.
INTERIOR: the first floor retains some 6-panel doors, moulded
cornices, reeded cornices and dado rail; especially room to
curved corner which also has a high skirting board;
closed-string dogleg service stair to rear has stick balusters
and turned newels.
This was noted as the principal coaching inn in Bridgwater.
(Buildings of England: Pevsner N: South and West Somerset:
London: 1958-: 98; VCH: Somerset: London: 1992-: 203).
Listing NGR: ST2980637071
Selected Sources
Books and journalsDunning, R W, The Victoria History of the County of Somerset, (1992), 203
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: South and West Somerset, (1958), 98
Map
National Grid Reference: ST 29805 37082
This copy shows the entry on 23-Apr-2024 at 07:16:52.