Wells Town Hall
Wells Town Hall | |
---|---|
Location | Wells, Somerset |
Coordinates | 51°12′32″N 2°38′42″W / 51.2089°N 2.6449°W |
Built | 1779 |
Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical style |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Official name | Town Hall |
Designated | 12 November 1953 |
Reference no. | 1383028 |
Wells Town Hall is a municipal building in the Market Place in Wells, Somerset, England. The building, which is the headquarters of Wells City Council, is a Grade II listed building.[1]
History
The first civic building in the market place, a market and assize hall, was completed in 1548.[2] It was paid for in part by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, William Knight, and in part from a legacy left by the former Dean of Wells, Richard Woleman.[2] After falling into a state of disrepair, it was rebuilt in 1663.[2] It was at Wells assizes that, in the aftermath of the Monmouth Rebellion, Judge Jeffreys held the Bloody Assizes on 23 September 1685.[3][4]
After the justices complained that the old market house and assize hall was cold and uncomfortable, civic leaders decided to procure a new building: the site selected, which was to the south of the old market and assize hall, had been occupied by a Canonical House used by former archdeacons.[3] An Act "for building a new Assize or Town Hall and Market House, within the City or Borough of Wells, in the County of Somerset; and for regulating the Markets within the said City or Borough" was approved by Parliament in March 1779.[5]
The new building which was built by Edmund and William Lush of
The town hall served as the meeting place of Wells Municipal Borough Council for much of the 20th century
Works of art in the town hall include a portrait by Godfrey Kneller of King Charles II,[11] a portrait by Peter Lely of King James II (as Duke of York)[12] and a portrait by Anthony van Dyck of Bishop Robert Creighton,[13] as well as a more recent portrait by Arthur Hayward of Admiral Sir James Somerville.[14]
References
- ^ a b c d Historic England. "Town Hall (1383028)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ ISBN 978-0752435954.
- ^ a b "Market Hall and Assizes" (PDF). Bishops Palace. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "The Bloody Assize". Somerset County Council. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "'House of Lords Journal Volume 35: March 1779 1-10', in Journal of the House of Lords Volume 35, 1776-1779 (London, 1767-1830)". British History Online. pp. 599–622. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ a b c "History of Wells Town Hall". Wells City Council. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Wells MD". University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ISBN 0-10-547072-4.
- ^ "What the Council does". Wells City Council. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Weddings". Wells City Council. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ Kneller, Godfey. "Charles II (1630–1685)". Art UK. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ Lely, Peter. "James II (1633–1701), as Duke of York". Art UK. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ Van Dyke, Anthony. "Robert Creighton (1636/1637–1734), Bishop of Bath and Wells (1670–1672)". Art UK. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ Hayward, Arthur. "Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Fownes Somerville (1882–1949), GBE, GCB, KBE, KCB, CB, DSO". Art UK. Retrieved 5 December 2020.