The Guildhall

The Guildhall, built in 1696, was commissioned by George Treby and the Strode family. It is constructed of roughly coursed rubble with dressed granite rusticated quoins, a dressed granite arcade, granite ashlar arcade abutments, and a first-floor sill course and string. The building features a steep dry slate roof with sprocketed eaves over a moulded and modillion cornice, while the rear wing has a steep asbestos slate roof and a brick stack over the rear wall of the front range.

The plan includes a shallow-depth front range with two shallow ground floor rooms flanking a central passage, and deeper first-floor rooms that project forward over a three-bay arcade. There is also a deep rear wing at right angles and a single-storey extension on the right. The exterior is two storeys high with a symmetrical three-bay front. The first floor has 20th-century 16-pane horned sashes with carved heraldic panels between them. The round-arched mid to late 19th-century horned sashes and a central round-arched doorway with a fanlight and a nine-panel door are set back within the arcade.

The moulded round-arched arcade is supported by Tuscan columns and features a carved two-tier keystone above the central arch, with rubble relieving arches, those on the left and right having plain keystones. Round rubble arches on the returns allow for pavement access, which is paved with slate flags. The returns have first-floor sashes similar to those on the main front. A stair outshut on the right-hand return of the wing has an early 19th-century 12-pane hornless sash, while the right-hand return features late 19th-century two-light round-arched windows with traceried heads. The rear has a pointed-arched window with a fanlight head.

The interior has not been inspected, but a previous description notes a good 18th-century fireplace. The mayoral insignia, including two silver gilt maces, are preserved within the building. The Guildhall was given by the Treby and Strode families, who were significant figures in the local community.