Guildhall, Ashdon (EHER 4777)

Late 15th to early 16th century, two storey, timber framed and plastered house. Probably originally the church house. It has since been converted to tenements.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: The Guildhall, now three tenements, is 40 yards south of the church. It is of two storeys and the walls are timber-framed and plastered with a tiled roof. It was built late in the 15th or early in the 16th century, probably as a Church House, and originally had a Hall with Screens at the east end. On the north side the upper storey projects, and has small ornamental brackets with defaced shafts. On the ground floor are traces of an original window and in the upper storey are traces of three original windows with projecting sills which have remains of defaced carving. At the west end is an original chimney-stack of rubble. The screen in the room that was formerly the Hall has a small doorway with a four-centred head, now blocked. The roof-trusses each have a crudely moulded king-post, central purlin, struts and curved brackets. In the south wall of the upper storey is a four-centred head, probably of an original window, now blocked. Roger Bryght left his tenement with 2 houses on it, called "Bryghtes" to the Guild of St Mary the Virgin. On the upper storey of the north front are the remains of 3 original oriel windows. In 1731 the Guildhall was converted into 3 dwellings for poor families. In the 20th century it was restored and converted into one tenement. <1> <2> The building is undergoing restoration and the south front has been replastered, with modern windows. Grade II. <3> Site Assessment: An interesting survival of its period. <4> Other ref: <5> Medieval pottery found at Guildhall Cottages, 1962. <6> 1969. Field survey. "Guildhall", a private residence adjoining the churchyard. An interesting survival of its period, in good condition and as described above. See GPs. <7> 1977. Field survey. No change since 05/05/1969. <8> 2000. Aerial photography. <9> See also: <10> Ashdon Guildhall Essex: Rodger Bryght local landowner left money to build a Guildhall for Our Lady St Mary in his Will 1501 one trustee was Thomas Pledger. <11>