The Masonic Hall

ABBEY PLACE 1. ----------- 1103 The Masonic Hall (formerly listed under The Shooting Meadows) TR 0161 NE 1/69 29.7.50. II*

1. Originally the Free Grammar School, founded in 1527, built in 1587 and moved to another site in 1879. The construction of the building is similar to the contemporary Guildhall. It is a timber-framed building originally standing on an open arcade consisting of 2 rows of 5 octagonal columns supporting heavy beams with brackets attached to them, the 1st floor overhanging on a bressummer on each side. Only a small portion of the ground floor at the North end was enclosed with a timbered wall. The remainder was originally open and used as a play-ground. Above was the School-room and the Master's Study. Now the whole of the ground floor has been built in, but it is recessed, still leaving the columns of the arcade on each side free. The 1st floor is faced with weather-boarding. On the East side are 5 modem casement windows, now obscured with black paint. Tiled roof. At the North and South ends are gables overhanging on bressummers with cove beneath, also moulded bargeboards which have recently been renewed, but without their original pendants at apex and angles. 6-light windows on these fronts with wooden mullions and transoms. Panelling inside. Photographs in NMR.

Listing NGR: TR0185161636