Leaf Hall

A working men's institute of 1863-1864, designed by the Architect Robert Knott Blessley in Continental Gothic style for the philanthropist William Leaf. The turret bell was made by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Restored circa 2009.

MATERIALS: brown brick with structural polychromy in red, white and black patterns, with Bath stone window and door surrounds and some metal ventilation grilles. The roof is of slate with metal ventilation louvres.

PLAN: a wedge-shaped site with the entrance under a circular four-stage circular tower at the north-east leading to a two-storey building of five bays.

EXTERIOR: the west side has at the north end a four-stage corner tower in brown brick in header bond with a conical slate roof with clock faces and a metal cross-shaped finial. There are projecting brick string courses between the stages. The top stage has lancet windows in wider horseshoe-arched polychromatic surrounds on stone corbels. In descending order there are two stages of lancet windows, the lower stage taller. The ground floor stage has no windows but a series of red brick bands and a frieze of Greek crosses. At the corner is a stone entrance with a pediment containing the Leaf coat of arms and the motto 'FOLIUM NON DEFLUET' above engaged columns with stiff-leaf capitals. Adjoining to the south is a two storey section with a large gable with kneelers. This has a triple arched stone plate tracery window with oculus above, a frieze of Greek crosses at the top of the ground floor, and a five-light window with polychrome brick arched heads and engaged stone columns with stiff-leaf capitals.

The north side is of two storeys with a parapet, moulded cornice and has five paired windows with polychrome arched heads to sash windows. There is a frieze of Greek crosses between the floors and the ground floor has an arched doorcase and plinth.

The south side of the hall is partly concealed by another property but is of plain cement render.

The east side is mainly concealed by houses built against it in the 1870s but the gable end with kneelers and oculus is still visible.

INTERIOR: the circular staircase has cast iron railings, the alternate ones with scrollwork. An alcove on the stairs was lit with a candle for fishermen every time a small fishing fleet went out and not extinguished until it had safely returned.

The main hall has a five-bay roof of arch-braced type with kingposts and two tiers of purlins, a musicians gallery and some original joinery.

The former reading room retains original glass fronted bookcases.