8, Long Street, Devizes - a grade 2* House

Built by Samuel Powell in 1696, the home of Josiah Needham an 18th century eminent surgeon.

Number 8 Long Street was built in the most modern style of its day by an aspiring  cloth merchant Samuel Powell in recognition of  his hard won new social position. Matthew McMurrayhas written a book on its history including its rental and neglect by absentee landlords through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It was rescued in the 1970's but it is one of the least altered and best preserved houses in Devizes.

Samuel Powell's House: "The Early 18th Century Town House of a Devizes Clothier" by Matthew McMurray. Price: £12.50 plus £3.75 p&p With P&P - £16.25 or collected from Museum - £12.50.

The advertisement for the book states;

"This book tells the compelling story of one of the most important eighteenth century houses in the medieval towns of Devizes through the changes made to the house and the often colourful stories of its owners and occupiers, which include Joseph Needham Tayler, one of the real life inspirations for C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower.

This carefully researched and well illustrated book tells the compelling story of one of the most important eighteenth century houses in the medieval town of Devizes. It draws together three years of painstaking survey work and documentary research to build up a picture of evey element of the house. Special attention is paid to examining and illustrating its architectural details, fixtures and fittings, including stonework, woodwork, plasterwork and decoration.

Built in the most modern style by an asirant cloth merchant as an expression of his hard won social position, its subsequent rental and neglect by absentee landlords through the nineteenth and twentieth centureis (but rescued in the 1970's) means it is one of the least altered and best preserved houses in the town."