The City Arms, 69 High St, Wells, Somerset. BA5 2AG. - Pictorial Pub Signs on Waymarking.com

According to the sign on the outside west wall on Queen Street 'The original building dates from 1549 when it was the City Jail "which remains intact including original barred windows locks and chains and a solitary cell"'. (my inverted commas)

When I asked to see the cell, etc. I was in the bar area at the west of the courtyard and was told 'This is it'. I could not see a cell, a barred window, no chains about so was most disappointed. The area is, I was told, several cells long along the west wall and I've since found out that 'The ground floor of the west wing was totally reconstructed c1987, but the upper room has an open ceiling exposing the collar truss roof frame, basically old although the collars have been sawn off and reset at a higher level-there is also other misleading applied timberwork.'

All in all, the sign is telling porkies.

That being said it's a Grade II listed C16th Inn with much later revision. Built of local stone rubble, rendered and colourwashed. With clay pantiled roofs, and brick and stone chimney stacks. In plan, U-shaped around a courtyard, with main access off High Street, and a flank to Queen Street.

The pub sign is above the entrance off the High Street (St.Cuthbert Street) and is two-sided. Looking into the courtyard we see a pub scene with a serving wench and two customers, one drinking the other flirting and in the background two miscreants behind bars. The other side of the sign is looking out of the courtyard and shows two miscreants chained up in the cell with two regular customers enjoying themselves in the pub.

Name of Artist: Not listed Date of current sign: Not listed Date of first pub on site: Not listed

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Date Logged Log   08/12/2021 BRISTOLIAN visited it