Wealden Hall, York

The Wealden Hall is a grade I listed building[1] on Goodramgate in the city centre of York, in England.

The hall, on Goodramgate

The building was constructed in about 1500. It is a wealden hall house, which by the date was a common design in South East England, but rare in York. The Wealden Hall and 1 Tanner Row, also in the city, are the two northernmost surviving examples of wealden halls.[2]

Using the standard wealden hall design, the building originally had a central hall, with double storey bays either side. In this case, the design was end-on to the street, and, unusually, only the front bays were jettied. In front of the hall, a three-storey range was constructed to face the street.[3][4][5] Remain of two windows survive from the original construction, although they were originally unglazed and probably closed with shutters. The rear never had any openings, suggesting that it may have directly abutted another structure. The size of the house, and its jettying, suggests that it was built for a wealthy owner.[2]

From the 16th-century on, many alterations were made to the building: new walls and chimneys were added, attics were constructed, and a first floor was inserted into the hall. The front of the building was plastered, probably in 1700, a date which is now inscribed on the front of the building. The eastern part of the front range became a separate building, now the Snickleway Inn.[3]

In 1930, the building was bought by Cuthbert Morrell, for restoration, which was conducted by the architect Harvey Rutherford.[2] Among other changes, he restored the hall to its former dimensions, and removed the plaster from the street front, to reveal the timber framing.[3] The building now belongs to the York Conservation Trust and houses shops, with offices above.[2] It has also been used for exhibitions, like one in 2012 focusing on the culture of homelessness in the city.[6]