The Old Cloth Hall

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 22 August 2022 to amend the name and address and to reformat the text to current standards

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GUILDFORD NORTH STREET (South Side) The Old Cloth Hall

(Formerly listed as The Old Cloth Hall (Laura Ashley), previously listed as Premises occupied by Surrey Probation and After Care Service)

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GV II

Cloth hall, now shop. Built 1629 by Archbishop Abbot and extended in late C19 to the street end. Red-brown brick with orange-red brick on the extensions and plain tiled roofs. Rectangular plan at right angles to the street with tower extension to the street (north) end. Two and a half storeys to old range, with taller three stage tower facing the street.

Tower: stacks to front and with parapet around top; octagonal corner turrets under stone domes and finials. Buttressed on ground and first stages with string courses above. Curved bay rising through first and second stage on stone, moulded corbel support with stone-quoining and stone-dressed, mullioned and transomed casement fenestration. Three-light leaded attic casement above. One three-light leaded casement window to ground floor left, one to right flanking four-centre arched stone door surround with tall plinth moulding.

Older, return range to right facing Jeffries passage with irregular leaded casement fenestration, the majority C19. Chamfered-surround slit breathers along the first floor with three windows in, later, upper floor above. Wall continues to right along Jeffries passage at approx 2 metres height with brick-on-edge coping.

Rear:- gable and apex stack with gargoyles to angles.

Left hand return front (east side): stone-dressed mullioned and transomed casement fenestration in irregular arrangement. Door to left with chamfered stone surround and label moulding over.

The Cloth hall was built on the site of the stables of George Abbot's Hospital of the Blessed Trinity. Abbot intended it to be a manufactory to revive the woollen cloth industry in Guildford and endowed it with £100 p.a. In 1656 it was converted to house paupers and in 1856 it was used for the foundation of George Abbot's School.

Listing NGR: SU9982049601