Lions House, Bridgwater

Lions House is a two-story building on West Quay in Bridgwater with five bays and single-story wings, built from red and yellow bricks laid in a Flemish-bond pattern. It now serves as a mixed-use building that houses a dental practice and professional services within its historic walls.

Benjamin Holloway, who worked for the Duke of Chandos, built this residence around 1727 and blended Baroque design elements into its construction. The building received Grade I listing status in 1950, recognizing its exceptional architectural importance in British heritage.

The building takes its name from the decorative Chinese-style lion statues that have stood at its entrance since the twentieth century, giving it its distinctive character. These lions remain one of the most recognizable features of the place and shape how people see this part of the waterfront.

The building is visible from the street and located in an active part of the waterfront, easily reached on foot. Keep in mind that this is an occupied and working building, so visitor access is limited to viewing the exterior and the lion statues at the entrance.

The lion statues date from the twentieth century and were added later, not during the original construction of the house. These sculptures are particularly notable for their detailed craftsmanship and their prominent placement at the entrance, which gave the building its present name.