Listed Building record MDO1577 - The Leper's Well, Broad Street, Lyme Regis

The Lepers' Well is of 14th century in origin and is possibly earlier than this. The well is a remaining structure of a medieval hospital for people with leprosy.

The well is made of blue lias stone and is rectangular with a round-headed barrel vaulted recess with low projecting blocks of stone along an inner return at ground floor level. The site also features Boundary Walls to the Lepers’ Well which are also remains of the medieval hospital for people with leprosy. They were constructed in the 13th – 14th century and have 19th century buttresses. The walls are made of blue lias stone and are rectangular blocks with an arch. The north-west boundary wall contains fragments of splayed window jambs and sills. The front wall of the site which is of 14th century origin is now supported on the retaining wall to the river which was constructed around 1950.


Lepers Well (NR) <1>

A well at Lyme Regis was formerly considered efficacious for the cure of leprosy. <2>

A 13 to 14th century well which is the only remaining structure of a mediaeval lepers hospital, (SY39SW9). The well house is formed by a simple round arch. It is constructed from blue lias rectangular blocks with a round-headed barrel vaulted recess with low projecting blocks of stone along the inner return at ground floor level. Also extant are the boundary walls to the well which are also of the same date and of blue lias construction. The north-west boundary wall includes fragments of splayed window jambs and cills whilst the front wall, of 14th century origin, is now supported on the circa 1950 retaining wall to the river. (4). (SY 39 SW 9) in vicinity. The well house is formed by a simple round arch of stone. Internally the south-west side has another round arch at a lower level and immediately above the water container. Although old, no date can be given for this structure. See photograph. <3>

The Leper's Well at Lyme Regis is said to be 14th century of earlier; the only remaining part of a medieval lepers' hospital. It is a rectangular structure with a round-headed barrel vaulted recess. Grade II. <4>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1931 edition OS map (Map). SWX1540.

<2> 1939-42, Notes and queries for Somerset and Dorset 23, p218 (Article in serial). SWX1211.

<3> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F1 GCS 11-FEB-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<4> Department of the Environment, 31 Jan 1974, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Borough of Lyme Regis 1974, p13 (Scheduling record). SWX1213.

<5> DOE (HRR), 11 Dec 1991, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: District of West Dorset amendment 1991 (Scheduling record). SWX1214.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 449804 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 11:38AM