Great Pool Hall

Great Pool Hall

A substantial 17th-century timber-framed mansion with rubble stone gable walls and front wall rising to approximately 2 metres, above which the upper two storeys are timber-framed and rendered with some ashlar dressings. The building has a slate roof with projecting stone chimneystacks and comprises three storeys.

The east front displays jettied first and second floors, with the second-floor overhang and eaves carried on shaped brackets. Windows throughout feature 5-light sunk-chamfer mullions. The first floor retains two original 17th-century mullions with centre casements, while the second floor has two 20th-century reproduction mullions with lattice glazing.

The ground floor is dominated by a centre gabled porch with lower walls of stone and upper walls of timber-framed construction with closely spaced studding. The flat-headed doorway has a chamfered oak frame and a studded door with strap hinges. To the left of the porch is a 6+6+6 pane casement in a chamfered frame with an angled dripstone featuring dropped and returned ends. To the right stands a 20th-century plank door with a 4-pane window panel, followed by a 2+2 pane casement beneath a single long angled dripstone.

The north-west gable contains a broad off-centre projecting stack. To its left, the first and second floors have 17th-century 2-light mullions; to the right, a 20th-century 3-light transom occupies the ground floor and a 2-light mullion sits in the attic.

The south-west elevation is two storeys, with the middle bay of the facade slightly recessed and approached by steps leading to a broad entrance doorway set within a segmental arch of stone voussoirs and keystone. A large 20th-century studded door with strap hinges fills this opening. Directly above on the first floor is a small 2+2 pane casement. To the left of the doorway, the ground and first floors feature 4-light windows with angled dripstones. To the right are stair windows: a shallow 4-light mullion below and a 3-light transom above.

The south-west parlour wing projects with a gabled end and broad centre stack showing oversailing courses at the cap. On each side, the ground and first floors contain 17th-century 2-light sunk-chamfer windows with angled dripstones. The south-east wall of the parlour wing has a blocked window opening with angled dripstone on the left; further right, the parlour block displays tall 20th-century 3-light sunk-chamfer transom windows with segmental arches and stone sills on the ground, first, and second floors.

Interior

The interior is a fine and well-preserved example of 17th-century craftsmanship. Entry from the porch leads into a stone-flagged hall. The hall fireplace features a chamfered 20th-century lintel; to its left is a bread oven (presumably occupying the position of a former fireplace stair), and to the right, a spice cupboard with Tudor arcaded ornament to its door. The axial and two transverse ceiling beams are chamfered with straight cut stops. The joists are now visible but were formerly concealed by an ornamental plaster ceiling bearing the date 1619 (a dated fragment survives separately). The ground-floor ceiling of the parlour block was also plastered.

A doorway at the back of the hall, leading to the parlour block, has a flat head and composite ovolo and ogee moulding. Opening from the lower end of the hall is a large service room; mortices in the headbeam suggest former partitioning.

At the rear stands a magnificent oak dog-leg stair with square newel posts displaying flat ornament in reserved panels and large turned ball finials and pendants. The closed string likewise carries flat ornament. Turned bulbous balusters and a reeded handrail complete the balusters. The stair rises in six flights of eight steps with oak treads 185 centimetres (6 feet) wide and reed-moulded risers. The pendant of the fourth newel is inscribed 1665 T.P R, very probably the initials of Thomas and Rachel Powell of Pool Hall.

On the first and second floors, the most conspicuous interior feature is the exposed timber-framing on the long walls of the early 17th-century house. The timbers are two panels high with closely spaced studs of large scantling and fine finish. The chamber above the hall, accessed through a Tudor-arched doorway, has a panelled plaster ceiling with moulded cornice and chamfered ceiling beams. A 17th-century fireplace features a chamfered timber lintel and stone jambs with broach stops. An oak-panelled partition, likewise two panels high, separates this room from the adjoining chamber. The second chamber has a panelled plaster ceiling with reeded cornice.

Beside the staircase is a great segmental arched studded door with vertical planks backed by horizontal boards and strap hinges. Inset into this massive door is a semi-circular arched wicket door opening into the timber-framed lobby of the west entrance. The ribbed plaster ceiling in the parlour appears 17th-century in date but may be restored work. The second floor contains an oak-panelled partition separating two upper chambers; both rooms have 17th-century fireplaces, one with chamfered stone jambs and broach stops, the other plain. The parlour fireplace is notable for its finely worked sides comprising tall pieces of coved stone.

The attic and roof were rebuilt in the 20th century.