Old Bowlish House

The origins of Old Bowlish House are shrouded in mystery. Romantic rumour suggests that the house was built by a fleeing Huegenot clothier. Whatever its origins though, the ruined mill in our garden is testament to Bowlish's industrial heritage. Certainly both mill and house were connected to the burgeoning 17^th century textile industry in Shepton Mallet.

The oldest part of the house has been dated to around 1630. This part of the house is especially remarkable - and deserving of a Grade II* listing - for its fine open-well oak staircase with a carved scroll balustrade and a series of coats of arms, and its original stone mullioned windows and two low arched inglenook fireplaces.

In 1720 the house was remodelled in the palladian style to reflect the early Georgian fashion of the time. At the front of the house, the reception rooms were transformed with tall sash windows to replace original stone mullions, and two very finely decorated fireplaces. An imposing doorway with a pediment on attached Ionic columns and a Georgian fanlight ensured that any visitor was suitably impressed even before they walked through the door.

Little is left of the early decoration of the house although a piece of hand painted 18^th century wallpaper still remains, preserved in situ in a first floor room, and a significant part of a wall painting reflecting the staircase is clearly evident on the stairs leading to the first floor.

A cellar with barrel vaulted ceiling and its own spring was rediscovered around twenty years ago and retains the same ambient temperature all the year round.