Building record PSH 059 - Peasenhall Assembly Hall

Peasenhall is a moderately sized village in north Suffolk, whose economy was based on local agriculture and associated businesses. The most important manufacturers between 1800 and 1967 was the Smyth family whose Suffolk Seed Drill Company, producing agricultural seed drills, employed many of the local villagers at the time. James Josiah Smyth, the last of the dynasty to head the company, gifted the village hall in 1888 when it was originally used as Assembly Rooms. Smyth was also the benefactor for the Mechanics Institute (demolished), school and vicarage (not designated).

Smyth commissioned the building in the Swiss Chalet style apparently to remind him of one of his favourite countries. It is uncertain who manufactured the building, but it is probably locally built. There have been alterations to the structure, notably the replacement of the roof with corrugated metal covering. Window openings have been inserted in the façade and rear elevations, fire doors on the east and west elevations and there are additions to the rear and east.

A timber village hall, formerly the Assembly Rooms, built 1888, a gift of James Josiah Smyth of the Suffolk Seed Drill Co. to the village. Built on a red brick plinth, the building has a timber frame, clad with horizontal and vertically laid planks and a timber string course. The overhanging roof, supported on carved brackets, has a 20th century corrugated metal covering. To the rear is a substantial 20th century single storey addition and to the east, a smaller addition. The façade has a large door opening with a 20th century timber door, approached by concrete steps, with three panels on either side, the central having louvres. Above the door is an inserted rectangular light with frosted glass. The door case has incised timbers and a pointed-arch head with inserted casement windows on either side. The apex is punctuated with small circular and grooved motifs. The east and west elevations have three casement windows with two blind panels between and louvred panels at each end. Each elevation has an inserted fire door towards the rear. Two casement windows have been inserted above the rear addition.

The hall has timber wainscoting and a dado rail with horizontal planking above and simply detailed uprights. The panelling to the rear has been replaced and the remnants of a former brick chimney stack are apparent. 20th century lowered ceilings obscure the roof truss; mezzanine floors have been inserted to the front and rear.

When considering suitability for designation, greater selection is required for those buildings post-dating 1840 based on the architectural quality, intactness and rarity of the building. In this case, the historic significance of the structure is an additional factor for consideration.

The use of the Swiss Chalet style in architecture developed from the early 19th century in Germany and spread to other countries particularly Scandinavia and the United States. Prince Albert is widely accredited with introducing the style to the UK. At Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, there are two grade II timber-built chalets erected in 1845-50, for the use of the Royal children on the estate. Other notable listed examples include the Dickens chalet in Rochester, listed at grade I because of its association with the author. Domestic examples designated at grade II include the 1862 Quaker Cottage in Cornwall and the late 19th century Swiss Cottage in Southampton. All designated examples are highly ornate and very largely intact, however.

The village hall, constructed in 1888, is a late example of the style, but is nevertheless an unusual form for a community building. The building has local historic interest, being associated with the Smyth dynasty and it is prominent in the village conservation area, thus contributing to its character and appearance. However, it lacks the quality of detailing seen in designated examples. The elevations are plain with contrasting horizontal and vertical planking, roof brackets and the string course being the principal decorative elements. Only the facade has greater detail in the form of simple, repetitive and machine-carved motifs which do not confer special architectural quality to the hall. Crucially the exterior and interior of the building has been considerably altered. In particular the replacement of the roof structure, construction of the rear and side additions and additional window and door openings have further diminished its architectural quality.