Market House

The Market House, formerly known as The Town Hall or Market House, was begun around 1617 and completed after 1655. It is attributed to John Abel, the King's Carpenter. This timber-framed building features a gable-ended tiled roof and stands two storeys high. The upper storey is supported by seven posts on the long sides and three at the ends, all featuring curved braces. The posts are made of local Spanish chestnut and rest on stone bases; they are moulded, grooved, and tapered with moulded bases. The upper storey projects on all sides, showcasing chamfered bressummers and exposed timber framing, with a herringbone pattern on the west and south sides, while the other sides have square panels. The building includes six-light wooden ovolo-moulded mullion and transom windows with leaded panes, with three windows on the west side and two on the south side. Inside, the open ground floor has a stone-paved floor and a ceiling with chamfered beams forming square bays. The upper storey features similar beams and exposed wall posts, although the stairs and most of the windows have been modernized. The Market House, along with all the listed buildings on the east side of High Street, forms a cohesive and significant group.