Wren Hall

SU 1429 NW 3/15

THE CLOSE No 56C (Wren Hall)

(Formerly listed as No. 57 (Choristers' School))

28.2.52.

GV I Originally north wing of Braybrook House No 57 qv. Rebuilt 1714 under direction of Naish Thomas Clerk of Works (doubtful attribution to Sir C Wren). 1 storey and semi-basement. Brick on stone plinth with moulded and coved stone cornice. Hipped old tile roof with 3 hipped dormer leaded casements. 4 tall 3-centred arched windows, with chamfered and bonded stone Jambs, and stone architrave surround to heads with key blocks. 4 2-light windows in basement. Central 6-Panel door in bonded chamfered stone surround with voussoir head, under wide projecting flat hood with concave curved lead roof carried up to a point and under oval window with moulded stone surround and quadrant blocks. Plain stone brackets under hood. Flight of 6 stone steps with plain wrought iron guard rails to door. Recessed bay with one window on first floor and narrower ground floor window and secondary door to left hand. The interior is one large school room with original panelled dado and master's desk. Medieval cellars survive. The foundation of school is C13. Alexander de Hemmingsby is the first Custos of the school on record. He was Canon from 1304 to 1334 and lived in the adjoining Braybrooke House, No 57 qv.

All the listed buildings in the Close form an outstanding group.

Listing NGR: SU1415929712