The Masonic Hall And No 39 (Attached)

The Masonic Hall and No. 39, which are attached, are a hall and house located on the north side of High Street in Bruton. The buildings date from 1642, 1684, and the 19th century. They are constructed from local stone rubble with Doulting stone dressings and ashlar, featuring plain clay tiles on the house and concrete double Roman tiles on the hall, both set behind coped gables. A brick chimney stack is present.

The house is two storeys high with two bays, while the hall is a single storey with one gabled bay that slightly projects. Architectural details include a plinth, ashlar boards, and an eaves course across both bays. The windows are plain chamfered mullioned, with the ground floor window featuring a label with diamond stops. There is an arched opening in the lower bay 1 that leads into Warren Close, also under a similar label. The hall has a four-light chamfered mullioned and transomed window under a label, along with a blocked four-centre arched doorway to the left, above which is a panel displaying a masonic emblem.

An eaves-level string course runs along the gable, above which is an oval panel in a rectangular frame dated 1684, set under a hood mould, with a similar circular panel above it. The rear gable of the hall is plain but includes a small rectangular panel with a datestone from 1642. The interior has not been seen. This site was previously the location of the Market Hall Court House, which was in use until 1790 and incorporates parts of those earlier buildings.