The Hole in the Wall Public House

The Hole in the Wall is a public house, dating back to the mid-16th century, with a 17th or 18th century two-bay addition to the west Gable end. The original building is timber-framed and rendered, featuring a steeply pitched slate roof and an end stack replacing the original framed and plaster stack. Originally consisting of three bays and a narrower smoke and entry bay, it now rises two storeys with an attic. The first-floor side wall is jettied, with two canted bays beneath it. Later windows include a 20th-century horizontal sliding sash at the first-floor gable end. The west-facing extension has a steeply pitched roof, originally pantiled but later replaced with brick and rendered. It has two windows on each floor.

Inside, the original layout of a hall with a service area towards the east Gable end remains intact. A framed partition wall previously separated the service bay from the hall, and similar walls at first-floor and attic levels are still present. The original staircase has been removed, but likely stood on the north side of the stack. The timber framing uses substantial scantling with close-set studs, approximately one foot apart at ground floor and slightly wider at the first floor. Main posts are jowled to receive the middle rail, and tie beams are cambered. Curved upward bracing strengthens each bay on the first floor, and gable ends are similarly braced. The roof is of original through-purlin construction with collars between the principals, with flat-laid rafters. In the smoke bay, rafters are blackened, having been cut down when a clunch and brick stack was inserted in the late 16th or early 17th century. The roof is not wind braced. An original doorway with iron fittings connects the first-floor chamber to the room over the service bay. Four original window openings remain blocked: one of three lights and three of two lights, each with ovolo mullions. Traces of wall paintings are visible on the wall plate and tie beam to the chamber over the hall. A similar window survives at ground floor. The main beams are stop-chamfered, and the joists are similar in size to the rest of the building, featuring run-out stops.