The Guildhall

The Guildhall is a former market hall, built on the site of a market cross. It dates from the early to mid-17th century, after 1621, with alterations made in 1668. The building was later used as shop premises and was unoccupied at the time of a survey in 1987. It is constructed of timber framing with roughcast rendering, and has a roof covered with mid-20th century concrete plain tiles.

The freestanding building is approximately square, with gable ends facing north and south. The jettied upper floors are supported by thick carved brackets, the bressummers displaying repeated geometric patterns, now heavily eroded. The tie beams also feature carving. The north gable has a tripartite upper window with a projecting central section, featuring an original carved sill and a renewed four-light window. The flanking side windows retain one original ovolo mullion each. A 17th-century attic window is also present. The ground floor has large boarded and battened doors, dating from its use as a fire station.

The east side has an original five-light mullion and transom window with a renewed carved sill. The south side has a pair of 20th-century mullion and transom windows on each floor, a 20th-century battened entrance door, and a gable stack with a small square shaft.

Inside, the gable ends were originally open to the ground floor, supported by central posts and knee braces to the mid rail. The ground floor side walls have widely spaced studs and long straight braces, with similar infilling to the gable ends. The first-floor studs are also widely spaced, with curved braces at the corners. The upper floor has on-edge plain joists. The plaster ceiling of the upper floor is a later addition dating from around 1668 when the attic was created; it features a central band with a repeating pattern based on half-circles, and four moulded divisions with Fleur-de-lys, foliage, and rosette motifs. A stack, also dating from 1668, was inserted to provide heating for the schoolroom, with a simple three-centred brick arch fireplace. The roof has clasped and butt purlins with arched wind-bracing. Structural drawings are available from Mr T. Easton, Bedfield Hall.