Osmotherley Quaker Meeting House

Quaker Meeting House, built by 1733 and extended in 1947, with later alterations.

MATERIALS: ashlar with clay pantile roof coverings.

PLAN: a rectangular on plan, single-storey meeting house with a gabled roof and chimney stack to the east gable end, with a single-storey lean-to to the east gable.

EXTERIOR: the meeting house is situated facing into the Quaker burial ground off West End, oriented west-east and built in ashlar with raised quoins. The roof has clay pantile coverings with shaped stone kneelers and coped gables. The shed roof of the eastern lean-to extension is also covered in clay pantiles. The main (south) front comprises five bays with, from left to right, two four-light windows, a built-up doorway with a stone lintel, another four-light window, and then the entrance door in a plain opening with a lintel that bears the date 1723. The window openings have plain stone surrounds with projecting sills. The south elevation of the eastern lean-to includes a casement window.

The east elevation of the lean-to includes a casement window and built-up doorway, whilst to its rear (north) are three small casement windows. A small four-light window in the upper level of the meeting house east gable lights the gallery. The north and west elevations of the meeting house are blind. The west elevation has a small outbuilding attached.

INTERIOR: the meeting house entrance door leads into a small lobby, part-enclosed by tongue and groove panelling, with a four-panelled door leading into the main meeting room. The meeting room has a timber floor and is plastered and painted. Below the gallery to the east wall is a modern stone fireplace and the gallery stairs in the north-east corner are enclosed by panelling including a four-panelled door. The gallery is now fully-enclosed, providing an upper room. Its north-south floor joists are visible forming the ceiling below. The leant-to to the east includes a kitchen and toilets.