Description

1.
1042 MARKET PLACE
(South-West Side)

The Bear Hotel

ST 9961 2/131 9.4.54.

II* GV

2.
The hotel is formed of 2 distinct buildings. The left hand front - late
C18, 2 storeys and attic. Delicate front of Bath stone on projecting plinth
with angle reeded Ionic pilasters whole height of building, each of half
oval plan, and with moulded bases and carved caps.
Moulded cornice, parapet with moulded coping. Hipped stone tile roof and
3 pedimented dormers, central segmental. Wide flanking 2-storey angular
bay windows, with side lights 3 panes and centre lights 4 panes wide all
with stone architrave surrounds. Central 1st floor window of rectangular
and diamond glazing pattern in surround of enriched architrave, with curved
frieze and cornice and flanked by circular medallions and hanging rope swage.
On ground floor - central doubld glazed doors, rectangular and diamond glazing
pattern with junction rosettes, in doorcase of stone half reeded Ionic pilasters,
half oval plan, with floral necking ornament, carved entablature with oak
leaf pattern curved frieze.
The door approached by double curving flight of moulded stone steps with
stone retaining wall to front supporting a delicate wrot iron verandah porch
and with 4-panel standards of diagonal and rectangular pattern with similar
panelled head rail and flat curved hipped lead roof.
Guard rails across head of retaining wall and between standards of rectangular
frame type with horizontal band of circular distance pieces, carried in
curved rails down side of steps. Good contemporary stair with wrot iron
balustrade.
The side wall of this building of brick with chamfered stone quoins and
coved plaster cornice. Adjoining right hand block has an early C18 front
to earlier probably Cl6/C17 building. 3 storeys and attic. Painted stucco
on projecting plinth with rusticated ground floor treatment. String at
1st floor level. Chamfered quoins. Mounlded cornice and parapet with moulded
coping. Hipped old tile roof. Large plain rectangular chimneys. 2 gabled
dormer casements with architrave frames, half glazed door, of 2 bottom panels
and 9 panes, under Doric porch of 2 columns, wall pilasters and entablature,
with full sized Bear standing over holding large bunch of grapes,- 2 angular
bay windows to right hand of different size, glazing altered, both framed
with Doric pilasters and entablature.
The main ground floor room of this building has Tuscan wood columns supporting
ceiling beams. In the far right hand corner is an C18 staircase and below
it the former buffet display cabinet with sash lights and glazing bars,
the wall lined with Dutch tiles. Room to right of entrance has 4 centred
arched stone chimney piece.
The yard at back shows portion of C17/C18 building, irregular and gabled
remains of gallery, with a tall 2-fay 2-storey stone Doric order of 3 large
columns with entablature of triglyph frieze and modillioned cornice, this
is built on to older front and resembles a similar group of columns and entablature
which formerly stood in the market place opposite the hotel and supported
the Bear sign.
At the west end of the range of buildings giving on to yard are the former
Assembly Rooms. Originally facing the Market Place and adjoining the Bear
Hotel, the building was moved to its present site when the Corn Exchange
qv was built in 1856, (viz old photo in Town Hall). Tall early C19 facade
of Bath stone raised on brick basement. The front is divided into 3 bays
by giant Doric pilasters with moulded caps and bases, resting on block string
course. 3 very large recessed sash windows, glazing bars intact, flush
keystones over. The ground floor has 3 segmental archways with brick string
linking them. Stone keystones reaching up to block string course. Double
service doors to centre and right. The left hand door gives on to entrance
hall : glazed and panelled double doors with side lights. Segmental fanlight
with ornate ironwork.
The Bear Hotel was owned by the father of Sir Thomas Lawrence PRA who was
himself associated with it.

All the listed buildings on the South-West side, South-East Side of Market Hall,
Market Cross and the Fountain form a group.

Also all the listed bulldings on the South-West Side form a group with Nos
1 to 18 (consec) Northgate Street.

Listing NGR: SU0035861448

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17543949

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)