Regency Shop Building, Bridport, Dorset

 

I was going to include these photos in another of the Odds & Ends series but on finding some interesting information I felt it deserves an article of its own. What is really interesting is that the one above is connected to the ones of a shop (below), which I had no idea about, and that they are all part of the same L shaped block with a building between the two. Hooray for British Listed Buildings! :)

I hadn't taken a photo of the central building but you can just see where it adjoins the shop in the photo above. It was this shop that caught my eye, along with the pointed doorway in the screen wall. The whole is II* Grade Listed, built in the late 18th to early 19th century, and the shop front is an absolute delight.

The mullions between each window are cast iron in a foliated design and the fascia boards above contain scrollwork and vine patterning.

Moulded pilasters are either side of the door and windows. The fabulous carvings on the pilaster capitals are of various nature themes, including flowers, foliage, fruit, birds and animals. An owl amongst greenery is on the right capital above the door and something else on the left - which I can't make out - in what looks like either a blackberry bush or grape vine (although the leaves aren't right for the latter). 

The shop front is thought to have been made specifically for a tailor in 1845. At the time of my visit in 2009 it belonged to Beautiques, who specialise in facial treatments. In the British Listed Buildings website the 2017 photo shows it belonging to Ink & Page, who are makers and printers of hand bound books, posters and other artwork...which is much more to my liking and would love to visit.

The pilaster capitals on the road side window are also really lovely. A dove sits amongst flowers on the left and I'm not sure what the beastie is on the right one; something with a curly tail, possibly a snake or a lizard. 

And that's about it! Interestingly, when I went through the listed buildings for Bridport, I also came across a family butchers which has a glazed tiled nameplate below the shop window, which I'd also taken a photo of. I only have that one photo so I'll put it in the next Odds & Ends article.

I really enjoyed this one and so pleased I found the information for this delightful shop and intriguing garden wall doorway. I don't know if I'll manage another article before the new year but I'll see how things go.

Have a great New Year's Eve everyone, if I don't write beforehand. And I will see you on the next post and another year.

Cheers. :)

P.S. I changed the title to 'Regency Shop', as it fits better under the shop category in the contents page. Just in case anyone wondered! :)