Masonic Hall

The building is a Masonic hall, originally constructed in 1894 as a school and later a technical college. It is built of rough limestone ashlar with fine ashlar dressings and quoins, and has a slate roof with ashlar stacks to the gable ends. The design is in a stripped Jacobean style, following an L-shaped plan. It is two storeys high, with a three-window front. The windows are large, stone-mullioned and transomed, with two panes over four panes in each light. A four-light window is located on the first floor to the left, alongside two two-light windows to the right. The ground floor has three two-light windows and a central double door, all under a continuous label mould. The double six-panel doors have a segmental-arched overlight within a pulvinated architrave, with a datestone above. Internally, ceilings are approximately 4 metres high and the doors are large, with six panels and bolection moulding. A large, open-well staircase with turned balusters and chamfered and moulded newels is located to the rear left. The first-floor Masonic Hall has tongued-and-grooved panelling below a high dado rail. The school was initially founded in 1663 and, following reorganisations, was amalgamated with the Technical Institute in 1901. The building enjoys a prominent position on The Green, and contributes to the group value of several other listed buildings.