Description

SX 29 NW POUNDSTOCK POUNDSTOCK

10/148 The Guildhouse
29.9.61

GV I

Guildhouse. C15 origins. Circa early C16 remodelling, restoration of 1919 by E H
Sedding. Stone rubble to first floor level, whitewashed plastered cob above, slate
roof gabled at north and south ends, axial brick chimney. Original plan of 10 bay
open hall. Stack and first floor inserted probably early C16. First floor
entrance from churchyard at north gable end, 2 ground floor entrances on west side
via a walled approach with stone coping. 2 storeys. Buttresses with weatherings,
3 to west side, 2 to east side. Timber 4-light mullioned windows throughout look
early C16 in form, mostly repaired 1919. Ground floor windows have chamfered
lintels and sills, 4 round-headed lights with ogee chamfers and moulded mullions.
King and outer mullions have small hollow chamfers and a bead moulding, subsidiary
mullions have small hollow chamfers. Leaded panes. Southernmost window on east
side unrestored. First floor windows similar in form irregularly arranged and
slightly smaller with roll mouldings. 4 window west front has 2 probably 1919
plank entrance doors with older frames under wider timber lintels. Blocked opening
with timber frame to ground floor left; 4 ground floor windows, 4 first floor
windows. Lead guttering and down pipes may be C18. North gable end has first
floor C16 timber doorframe with slightly cambered head under a timber lintel. Bead
moulding on lintel and jambs. On either side of the door is a small 2-light C16
timber mullioned window with ogee-headed chamfers. Left-hand window looks
original. Right-hand window under heavy timber lintel.
Interior: 11 C15 trusses with principals with curved feet resting on wall plate.
Slightly cambered collars mortised into principals, 3 tiers of threaded purlins,
principals mortised at apex, diagonally-set ridge. Some replacement of roof
timbers but smoke-blackening on originals seems to be throughout. Partition wall
at stack, but room otherwise undivided. C20 fireplace to south side of stack. East
side wall plate original. No stair to ground floor. Ground floor interior not
inspected but large cross beams are supported on engaged brick piers.
In the Churchwardens' Accounts the building is described as the "Parish Alms
House", the "Church House" and the "Poor House". In 1811 it was inhabited by 8
paupers. In 1858 the first floor was used as a schoolroom and the ground floor was
use as a sexton's room and stables with a reference to a stone staircase.
Outstanding survival of a medieval guildhouse. J G Edwards, The Story of
Poundstock Church and Parish (Poundstock, 1979)

Listing NGR: SX2020699405

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17529183

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)