St Disen'S Hall

BRADNINCH FORE STREET (west side), SS 9904 Bradninch 11/25 St Disen's Hall - GV II Parish hall, built as a Sunday School. 1838, with a rear, single-storeyed extension (to Chapel Street) called 'Strong's Room', 1908. Good quality snecked volcanic trap ashlar under gabled-end slate roof. Main hall of 2 storeys. The hall occupies a corner site; the 1-bay front to Fore Street with coped gable, the gable wall containing a shield with faded inscription; rusticated quoins; 2-light 1st-floor square-headed window with stone jambs and mullion; ground-floor window similar but with a transom in addition. Church Street elevation: main hall of 3 bays; 2-light windows above are identical to 1st floor window to front; two 2-light windows below with transom to the right of a segmentally-headed arched doorway with moulded surround in Ham Hill stone, under square-headed hood mould with stops. Above the door the words 'SAINT DISEN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL'. Strong's Room with one entrance, one 3-light and two 2-light windows with stone jambs and mullions. Interior: Main hall with stage, the proscenium arch supported by 2 Ionic fluted pilasters; wooden gallery of 1908 : C20 false ceiling. The most important feature of the interior is the early-C20 coloured glass (undated) by Morris and Wilfred Drake; 3 roundels per light with a variety of heraldic motifs commemorating families connected with Bradninch; one roundel is an interesting piece of fake C17 work which contains the names of the makers and donor (Rev. Charles Croslegh). The Strong Room contains a 3-light window (possibly by the Drake firm) representing scenes from the history of the ancient borough of Bradninch. St Disen's Hall stands at the end of a long row of houses and is an important element in this group.

Listing NGR: SS9999404095