A TYPICAL TWO-BAY OPEN HALL HOUSE

BETWEEN c1370 TO AS LATE AS c1640

IN WALES AND NORTHERN AND WESTERN ENGLAND

Plan and section of a typical Open Hall House with a two-bay Open Hall. The overall length was about 12 m and the width about 6 m. The entrance doorway opened directly into the Hall, with the rear entrance opposite. The area between is called the Cross Passage and was sometimes screened from the Hall (screen not shown). In the centre of the Hall was the open-hearth fire, used for heating and cooking. A bench was supported by the wall next to the Parlour on which sat the owner and the more important members of his family, in front of which was a tressle table and the fireplace. This was the High End, the other end (the socially inferior Low End) being the place for servants, labourers and the like. All visitors entered the house at the Low End, no doubt under the watchful eye of the owner. The Parlour and the chamber above would have been occupied by the family as private sitting and sleeping quarters. The other men would have slept on the floor of the Hall and other women in other, probably separate, accommodation. The Service areas would have been used for storage and the preparation of food ingredients. This style (the Open Hall House) was being built until about the early 16 C in the South-East of England (and until later in the rest of England) after which fully two-storied houses were being commonly built. Many Open Hall houses were converted to two-storied houses with one or more fireplaces and chimneys.

This image is reproduced with the kind permission of David and Barbara Martin who are associated with the Institute of Archaeology, University of London.