The Old Punch House Inn

WARE TOWN

TL3514SE WEST STREET 829-1/9/182 (North side) 08/05/50 No.7 The Old Punch House Inn

GV II

House, now public house with flat above. C18, with C19 and C20 alterations. Front of yellow brick dressed with red, above rusticated stucco ground floor, with plinth. Moulded brick cornices above first and second floor windows, and painted, moulded band at first floor level. Old tiled roof concealed by parapet with stone coping, large central pedimented dormer, with Welsh slate roof, C19 red brick chimneystacks with oversailing courses at left in line with parapet. EXTERIOR: 3 storeys and attics, above basement. 4 sash windows with glazing bars, flush set with exposed boxes and architrave surrounds on second floor, recessed on first floor, all under flat cutter arches. 2 ground floor sashes with glazing bars and central recessed entrance door with fanlight over, up 3 steps, and lower door, beneath rusticated keystone and lintel at far right. 2 cellar windows. Tall red brick flank wall at left, along boundary of set back frontage to No.8, Rankin House, adjoining. Long 3 storey red brick rear outshoot at right with first and second floor bands, 2 flush-set sash windows at first floor, 4 light casement at second floor, and hipped old tile roof. Large single storey 1980s red brick extension, with hipped sandfaced tiled roof at left. This is partly behind No.6 (qv), which is now opened out into No.7 on the ground floor. HISTORICAL NOTE: the building was used for the wine and spirit business of the Ellis family, who also ran a private drinking club, from the late C17. It acquired the name The Punch House in the early C19, previously attached to No.82 High Street. (Hunt EM: The History of Ware: Hertford: 1986-1946: 106; Perman D: Ware UD. List of buildings of special arch or historic interest: 1993-: 63; Ware 25" to 1 Mile. Surveyed by the Ordnance Survey Department: 1851-; Branch Johnson W: Hertfordshire Inns: Letchworth: 1962-: 99).

Listing NGR: TL3576314353