Place House Hall History
Place House Hall History
Place House stands in a small walled courtyard in the centre of Ware and is a building of grade I national historic and architectural importance.
Place House dates from the late 13th /early 14th century, it was formerly the Manor house of Ware and often in royal ownership. Christ’s Hospital acquired the site in 1674 and it was used as a school for a number of years.
Place House was built as an aisled hall with a cross wing at the upper (west) end. The principal room of the building would originally have been the aisled hall, open from ground to roof (as seen today), with a hearth in the centre of the floor.
In the 1970’s the Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust, in consultation with SPAB (The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) restored the building, removing later inserted floors to reveal the timbered splendour of the original medieval hall. Financial assistance was received from the War Memorial Fund.
Place House was reopened in 1978 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
The original part of the medieval house, an aisled hall and cross passage, stands at the core of the building (Place House Hall). To the rear is a small kitchen, toilets and the Panelled Room. The remainder of Place House is in private use as self-contained offices and residential accommodation.
Since the Trust took over the management of the hall in 2006 it has make many improvements - created full disabled access, landscaped the garden, upgraded the electrics, installed new toilets, a new kitchen, new floor and new fire alarm.
Situated in the historic town of Ware, and within walking distance of public car parks and the railway station, Place House Hall is the ideal venue for many events and provides an inspirational and unique setting.
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