Municipal Buildings

The Municipal Buildings, formerly known as the Old Abbey Buildings, were constructed in 1486 on the site of St John's Hospice and Grammar School, which was founded in 1196. The building was later converted into a Grammar School and underwent restoration by Slingsby Stallwood for the University. It features two and a half storeys and is built of flint with Bath stone ashlar quoins, dressings, and random blocks. The roof is covered with old tiles and includes large skylights and dormers added in 1892.

The south front of the building has a layout of two plus two plus one plus two bays, with a single bay that projects forward, creating a gabled break. This section is flanked by single-storey corridor wings, also built in the style of the main building during the 1892 restoration. There are two original corbelled chimneys located on the eaves. The windows on the south front are mostly small, square-headed, two-light, four-centre arch headed lights that were primarily inserted during the restoration. A chamfered string runs over the ground floor to the north. There is an off-centre left polygonal and parapetted stair turret with an external chimney to the right. The first floor features small square-headed windows similar to those on the south side, with two to the left and one plus four to the right of the turret. The ground floor windows are significantly larger and include transoms. Additionally, there is a single-storey lobby extension to the north-east.

Inside, notable features include a Tudor arch fireplace, an aumbry, and a panelled room, which were mentioned in the Victoria County History and likely date from around 1892.