SDO10600 - 12 The Square, Beaminster. A Report on the Structural History of the Building

This report was commissioned to inform a planning application for alterations to 12, The Square, Beaminster, a grade II listed building currently used as a shop and associated accommodation. In particular it investigates whether the building was originally one or two properties as it is proposed to subdivide the accommodation into two units whilst retaining the shop on the ground floor. The building lies on the east side of the market place and occupies a corner plot with the longer elevation of two distinct builds facing west and a southern return fronting onto North Street. Previous architectural descriptions of the building are confined to the Statutory List (see appendix A) and a brief description in the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments survey of Dorset (RCHM 1952, 25, no 36; appendix B). Structural evidence indicates that the two parts of the building originated as separate properties. The earlier and larger part is 17th century in style and is consistent with the rebuilding date of 1687. The north end of the house appears to have been built in the mid 18th century as a separate property. They were probably combined c. 1830 when the property was bought by Richard Hine and partly converted into a shop.