Wren Hall

Wren Hall, originally the north wing of Braybrook House (No 57), was rebuilt in 1714 under the direction of Naish Thomas, Clerk of Works, although it is uncertain whether Sir Christopher Wren was involved. The building is a single storey with a semi-basement, constructed of brick on a stone plinth, featuring a moulded and coved stone cornice. It has a hipped old tile roof with three hipped dormer leaded casements. The façade includes four tall, three-centred arched windows with chamfered and bonded stone jambs, and a stone architrave surround with key blocks. In the basement, there are four two-light windows.

The central entrance features a six-panel door set in a bonded chamfered stone surround with a voussoir head, topped by a wide projecting flat hood with a concave curved lead roof that rises to a point, above which is an oval window with a moulded stone surround and quadrant blocks. Plain stone brackets support the hood, and there is a flight of six stone steps with plain wrought iron guard rails leading to the door. To the left, there is a recessed bay with one window on the first floor and a narrower window and secondary door on the ground floor.

Inside, the building consists of one large school room that retains its original panelled dado and master's desk. The medieval cellars are still intact. The foundation of the school dates back to the 13th century, with Alexander de Hemmingsby recorded as the first Custos of the school, serving as Canon from 1304 to 1334 and residing in the adjacent Braybrook House. All the listed buildings in The Close form an outstanding group.