LISTED BUILDING · NHLE 1446094
40 Bridge Street
40 Bridge Street, Leominster
The remains of a C15 hall house and C15 cross wing, and possible C16 bay, encased within a late C18 inn, with a mid-C19 two-storey addition to the rear.
Dates and uses reflect the source records and may not describe the building today.
No photograph currently published
Why the building matters
40 Bridge Street in Leominster, a late C18 inn with a C15 hall house at its core, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Architectural interest: as a rare example of a timber-framed C15 hall house and cross wing; * Degree of survival: the building retains a significant proportion of its C15 fabric including medieval roof trusses; * Historic interest: the preservation of the C15 building beneath an C18 exterior provides important evidence for the gradual evolvement of the building and this is readable in the surviving C15, C16, C17 and C18 fabric.
Historical development
The former inn The Hop Pole (known as such since at least the mid-C19) is a late C18 building with a C15 core, and is located at 40 Bridge Street, within the medieval suburb of The Marsh, Leominster. During underpinning works to the building in the mid-1990s, when the cellar was infilled, preserved animal bones and horncones were uncovered at the site suggesting that the building may have been used as a tannery, a thriving industry in C15 and C16 Leominster. The three bays of a C15 open hall house, orientated on a north to south axis, form the core of 40 Bridge Street, and have been interpreted as the service bay, cross passage and lower end of the hall. The south face of the southern roof truss is smoke blackened indicating that the building had an open hall, and this combined with the through purlins, trestle-sawn timbers, and large plain panels to the wall frames are indicative of a C15 date. In the C17 the hall was floored over. The C17 beams are stopped at their north end only, suggesting that at this time the fourth bay, the upper end of the hall, was extant. The two bay cross wing that extends from the west side of the principal range is also C15. The intermediate roof truss has a smoke blackened arch-braced collar and no tie beam, indicating that there was an open hall. The first floor, with a jetty to the west end (now underbuilt), may be a later C16 insertion. The north wall of the cross wing appears to have been rebuilt in the late C18 when the building was re-faced and the brick stack inserted. There is an additional timber-framed bay to the south-west corner of the building with the remains of a cruck to its west wall. Cruck frames are increasingly rare from the C16 onwards suggesting that this phase of the building is no later than C16. The two storey addition to the rear (east) of the building appears to be mid-C19. Reasons for Listing 40 Bridge Street in Leominster, a late C18 inn with a C15 hall house at its core, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Architectural interest: as a rare example of a timber-framed C15 hall house and cross wing; * Degree of survival: the building retains a significant proportion of its C15 fabric including medieval roof trusses; * Historic interest: the preservation of the C15 building beneath an C18 exterior provides important evidence for the gradual evolvement of the building and this is readable in the surviving C15, C16, C17 and C18 fabric.
People and businesses through time
HISTORICAL ADDRESS RECORD
Through time, 40 Bridge Street
1 of 11, 15th century
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About these records
Directory entries can describe a workplace or premises use rather than a residence.
15th century
ConstructionBuilding construction
Estimated date recorded by the current NHLE building entry.
SourceNational Heritage List for England, NHLE 1446094
Estimated construction date drawn from the NHLE list summary.
Architectural evidence and features
These descriptions relate to particular parts of the building at the date of each source. They may not reflect its use or condition today. Unconfirmed features remain open questions.
Evidence reviewed 13 September 2026.
Documented type / function
- Former Hop Pole Inn, a medieval hall-house with cross-wing encased in later house. Possible tannery interpretation remains uncertain
Principal identity and explicitly separated historical/ancillary use
15th century hall/cross-wing, possible 16th century west bay, 17th century inserted floor, late 18th century encasing, mid 19th century rear, later changes.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1446094
Royal Commission inventory, 1934
Applies to the named part and historical phase; current use has not been confirmed.
Documented phases
- 15th century hall/cross-wing, possible 16th century west bay, 17th century inserted floor, late 18th century encasing, mid 19th century rear, later changes.
Source-specific fabric phases, alternatives preserved
15th century hall/cross-wing, possible 16th century west bay, 17th century inserted floor, late 18th century encasing, mid 19th century rear, later changes.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1446094
Royal Commission inventory, 1934
Applies to the named part and historical phase; current use has not been confirmed.
Structural system
- Oak timber frame
medieval hall and cross-wing, explicitly trestle-sawn
15th century hall/cross-wing, possible 16th century west bay, 17th century inserted floor, late 18th century encasing, mid 19th century rear, later changes.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1446094
Applies to the named part and historical phase; current use has not been confirmed.
- Possible cruck
western bay only, identification uncertain
15th century hall/cross-wing, possible 16th century west bay, 17th century inserted floor, late 18th century encasing, mid 19th century rear, later changes.
Unverified
External wall material
- Brick
later encasing walls and rebuilt north wall
15th century hall/cross-wing, possible 16th century west bay, 17th century inserted floor, late 18th century encasing, mid 19th century rear, later changes.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1446094
Applies to the named part and historical phase; current use has not been confirmed.
Infill
- Wattle and daub
surviving east cross-wing truss
15th century hall/cross-wing, possible 16th century west bay, 17th century inserted floor, late 18th century encasing, mid 19th century rear, later changes.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1446094
Applies to the named part and historical phase; current use has not been confirmed.
Roof covering
- Slate
source slate tiles, not clay
15th century hall/cross-wing, possible 16th century west bay, 17th century inserted floor, late 18th century encasing, mid 19th century rear, later changes.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1446094
Applies to the named part and historical phase; current use has not been confirmed.
Roof structure / details
- Cambered tie-beam trusses; King strut; Queen struts; Through purlins; Wind braces
specified surviving hall/cross-wing trusses
15th century hall/cross-wing, possible 16th century west bay, 17th century inserted floor, late 18th century encasing, mid 19th century rear, later changes.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1446094
Applies to the named part and historical phase; current use has not been confirmed.
- Arch-braced collar
Smoke-blackened cross-wing truss, truncated rafters and cut members retained as source qualifications
15th century hall/cross-wing, possible 16th century west bay, 17th century inserted floor, late 18th century encasing, mid 19th century rear, later changes.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1446094
Applies to the named part and historical phase; current use has not been confirmed.
Chimneys
- Brick and stone
chimneys
15th century hall/cross-wing, possible 16th century west bay, 17th century inserted floor, late 18th century encasing, mid 19th century rear, later changes.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1446094
Applies to the named part and historical phase; current use has not been confirmed.
Architectural features
- Hall-house; Cross-wing; Underbuilt jetty; Cambered door heads; Stop-chamfered beams; Plank doors; Strap hinges; L hinges; Doric pilasters; Diamond leaded casements; Smoke-blackened roof timbers
Only the named source-described elevations, interiors and components; qualifiers form part of each term
15th century hall/cross-wing, possible 16th century west bay, 17th century inserted floor, late 18th century encasing, mid 19th century rear, later changes.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1446094
Royal Commission inventory, 1934
Applies to the named part and historical phase; current use has not been confirmed.
Historical context
- Infilled cellar; Underbuilt jetty
Cellar infilled mid1990s and historic jetty underbuilt, not current open cellar/projection
15th century hall/cross-wing, possible 16th century west bay, 17th century inserted floor, late 18th century encasing, mid 19th century rear, later changes.
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1446094
Applies to the named part and historical phase; current use has not been confirmed.
Research notes and uncertainties
Component, chronology and current-use qualifications: 20th century porches and single-storey outbuildings excluded from listing scope. Cellar infilled mid1990s. Lost west truss and cut collars/rafters are not intact positive features. Stave holes suggest former infill, not surviving daub throughout. Hall-house is not civic assembly-room use. Current use and survival not independently verified for September2026.
15th century hall/cross-wing, possible 16th century west bay, 17th century inserted floor, late 18th century encasing, mid 19th century rear, later changes. [Source-specific fabric phases, alternatives preserved; 15th century hall/cross-wing, possible 16th century west bay, 17th century inserted floor, late 18th century encasing, mid 19th century rear, later changes.] Documented fabric phases and alternatives. Reviewed value replaces rather than validates the original chronology. Administrative dates and generic town-history periods excluded. 20th century porches and single-storey outbuildings excluded from listing scope. Cellar infilled mid1990s. Lost west truss and cut collars/rafters are not intact positive features. Stave holes suggest former infill, not surviving daub throughout. Hall-house is not civic assembly-room use.
Explore records with these reviewed features. Results may concern only part of a listed group and retain their source-date qualifications.
How this record is evidenced
The designation, listing date and statutory description are drawn from Historic England, NHLE 1446094.
The building has been cross-referenced to the Royal Commission's 1934 Herefordshire inventory. The full matched extract and its cited illustrations are reproduced below with links to the digitised source.
The concise summary and searchable feature tags have been prepared by Leominster Heritage and are kept separate from the statutory wording.
The open questions below identify evidence that has not yet been securely established.
Map location
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40 Bridge Street
Grade II · C15 hall/cross-wing, possible C16 west bay, C17 inserted floor, late C18 encasing, mid C19 rear, later changes. [Source-specific fabric phases, alternatives preserved; C15 hall/cross-wing, possible C16 west bay, C17 inserted floor, late C18 encasing, mid C19 rear, later changes.] · The remains of a C15 hall house and C15 cross wing, and possible C16 bay, encased within a late C18 inn, with a mid-C19 two-storey addition to the rear. The C20 porch to each side elevation and the single-storey outbuildings to the rear (east) are excluded from the List entry. MATERIALS: trestle-sawn oak timber-frame, encased in brick. Brick and stone chimney stacks. The windows are a mixture of late C18, C19 and C20 timber casements. The roof is covered in slate tiles. PLAN: three bays of a C15 hall house aligned on a north to south axis and comprising the service bay, cross passage and lower end of the hall. There is a two bay cross wing, aligned on an east to west axis and extending from the service bay and cross passage of the principal range. There is an additional bay to the south-west corner of the building. The whole is encased in a brick building which is roughly square on plan. Across the rear (east) elevation is a two storey addition. EXTERIOR: the C15 open hall house and cross wing is concealed by a late C18, two-storey, brick building. The principal (west) elevation is unsymmetrical suggesting the presence of an earlier building behind the façade. It has an off-centre late C18 doorcase with Doric pilasters and flat, moulded, hood. There is a casement window to either side with diamond leaded lights, and three timber casement windows to the first floor. There are two ridge stacks, and a gable end stack to the south elevation. Across the rear (east) elevation is a mid-C19 two-storey addition with a lateral brick stack. INTERIOR: the three bays of a C15 hall house, aligned on a north to south axis, the two bays of a C15 cross wing, on an east to west axis, and an additional C16 bay to the south-west corner of the building are evident in the fabric of the building. The floor joists of the jettied first floor of the cross wing and additional bay, form the ceiling of the western half of the building. The jetties were underbuilt in brick in the late C18. The main post of the southern truss of the hall house and part of the post plate are visible to its western wall, and there is a cambered doorhead in the expected position of a doorway between the cross passage and service bay. At the southern end of the building, in the former lower end of the hall, is a C17 chamfered beam with plain stops at its north end. To the west wall is a substantial stone stack, which has been faced in brick. The timber framing survives to a greater extent at first floor. Most of the main posts of the roof trusses of both the hall house and cross wing are visible, and both the principal range and cross wing have wall frames of large plain panels. The northern wall has been rebuilt in brick. There is a C17 partition wall that runs through the service bay and cross passage with a C17 plank door with strap hinges. The southern bay has a central C17 chamfered ceiling beam with stepped stops at its north end and the wall plate to the east wall has been chamfered with a run out stop, again at the north end. Between the principal range and the cross wing is a doorway with a cambered doorhead. The partition wall dividing the cross wing into two bays may be C17 and incorporates a two-panel door with strap hinges with spearhead ends. The doorway between the C15 cross wing, and the probable C16 bay, has a late C17/early C18 two-panel door, with L-hinges. The west wall of this bay has a possible cruck. Within the attic the three surviving trusses of the C15 hall house have been preserved beneath a late C18 roof. Each truss has a cambered tie beam. The north truss has a collar at purlin level, and a king strut between the tie beam and collar. Stave holes to the principal rafters suggest it was formerly infilled with wattle and daub, and formed the end truss. The second truss has been modified to accommodate an inserted doorway and has curved angle braces to either side. The south truss has queen struts between the tie beam and collar; the collar has been cut to form a doorway. Most of the common rafters survive, pegged into the single tier of through purlins. There are windbraces on the east side of the roof structure. At the west side of the third bay is a stone stack, with a diagonally set shaft, probably inserted in the C17. The roof trusses of the cross wing extend to the west of the principal range. The east truss has a cambered tie beam with angle struts and is infilled with wattle and daub. The intermediate truss has an arch braced collar with smoke-blackening; the rafters have been truncated at the collar to allow the later roof construction. The west truss no longer survives, apart from the tie beam at eaves level. The brick stack to the north wall of the cross wing appears to be late C18 and coincides with the re-facing of the building in brick. Pursuant to s1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that the following are not of architectural or historic interest: The C20 porch to the north and south elevation. The C19 and C20 single-storey building to the rear (east). History The former inn The Hop Pole (known as such since at least the mid-C19) is a late C18 building with a C15 core, and is located at 40 Bridge Street, within the medieval suburb of The Marsh, Leominster. During underpinning works to the building in the mid-1990s, when the cellar was infilled, preserved animal bones and horncones were uncovered at the site suggesting that the building may have been used as a tannery, a thriving industry in C15 and C16 Leominster. The three bays of a C15 open hall house, orientated on a north to south axis, form the core of 40 Bridge Street, and have been interpreted as the service bay, cross passage and lower end of the hall. The south face of the southern roof truss is smoke blackened indicating that the building had an open hall, and this combined with the through purlins, trestle-sawn timbers, and large plain panels to the wall frames are indicative of a C15 date. In the C17 the hall was floored over. The C17 beams are stopped at their north end only, suggesting that at this time the fourth bay, the upper end of the hall, was extant. The two bay cross wing that extends from the west side of the principal range is also C15. The intermediate roof truss has a smoke blackened arch-braced collar and no tie beam, indicating that there was an open hall. The first floor, with a jetty to the west end (now underbuilt), may be a later C16 insertion. The north wall of the cross wing appears to have been rebuilt in the late C18 when the building was re-faced and the brick stack inserted. There is an additional timber-framed bay to the south-west corner of the building with the remains of a cruck to its west wall. Cruck frames are increasingly rare from the C16 onwards suggesting that this phase of the building is no later than C16. The two storey addition to the rear (east) of the building appears to be mid-C19. Reasons for Listing 40 Bridge Street in Leominster, a late C18 inn with a C15 hall house at its core, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Architectural interest: as a rare example of a timber-framed C15 hall house and cross wing; * Degree of survival: the building retains a significant proportion of its C15 fabric including medieval roof trusses; * Historic interest: the preservation of the C15 building beneath an C18 exterior provides important evidence for the gradual evolvement of the building and this is readable in the surviving C15, C16, C17 and C18 fabric.
The remains of a C15 hall house and C15 cross wing, and possible C16 bay, encased within a late C18 inn, with a mid-C19 two-storey addition to the rear.
Current survey photographs
No public survey photograph is currently linked to this place.
Contribute a photographDocumentary evidence
Historic England
Royal Commission inventory, 1934
This earlier inventory records the building as it was understood at the time of survey. Its terminology and interpretation should be read alongside the current NHLE entry and present-day observation.
Read the Royal Commission inventory extract
RCHME CROSS-REFERENCE 1
Leominster, monument (32), p. 119.
a (32). Hop Pole Inn, No. 40, immediately S. of (31), has been refronted and otherwise much altered.
Referenced illustrations
Official list description
Original NHLE location reference
The remains of a C15 hall house and C15 cross wing, and possible C16 bay, encased within a late C18 inn, with a mid-C19 two-storey addition to the rear. The C20 porch to each side elevation and the single-storey outbuildings to the rear (east) are excluded from the List entry. MATERIALS: trestle-sawn oak timber-frame, encased in brick. Brick and stone chimney stacks. The windows are a mixture of late C18, C19 and C20 timber casements. The roof is covered in slate tiles. PLAN: three bays of a C15 hall house aligned on a north to south axis and comprising the service bay, cross passage and lower end of the hall. There is a two bay cross wing, aligned on an east to west axis and extending from the service bay and cross passage of the principal range. There is an additional bay to the south-west corner of the building. The whole is encased in a brick building which is roughly square on plan. Across the rear (east) elevation is a two storey addition. EXTERIOR: the C15 open hall house and cross wing is concealed by a late C18, two-storey, brick building. The principal (west) elevation is unsymmetrical suggesting the presence of an earlier building behind the façade. It has an off-centre late C18 doorcase with Doric pilasters and flat, moulded, hood. There is a casement window to either side with diamond leaded lights, and three timber casement windows to the first floor. There are two ridge stacks, and a gable end stack to the south elevation. Across the rear (east) elevation is a mid-C19 two-storey addition with a lateral brick stack. INTERIOR: the three bays of a C15 hall house, aligned on a north to south axis, the two bays of a C15 cross wing, on an east to west axis, and an additional C16 bay to the south-west corner of the building are evident in the fabric of the building. The floor joists of the jettied first floor of the cross wing and additional bay, form the ceiling of the western half of the building. The jetties were underbuilt in brick in the late C18. The main post of the southern truss of the hall house and part of the post plate are visible to its western wall, and there is a cambered doorhead in the expected position of a doorway between the cross passage and service bay. At the southern end of the building, in the former lower end of the hall, is a C17 chamfered beam with plain stops at its north end. To the west wall is a substantial stone stack, which has been faced in brick. The timber framing survives to a greater extent at first floor. Most of the main posts of the roof trusses of both the hall house and cross wing are visible, and both the principal range and cross wing have wall frames of large plain panels. The northern wall has been rebuilt in brick. There is a C17 partition wall that runs through the service bay and cross passage with a C17 plank door with strap hinges. The southern bay has a central C17 chamfered ceiling beam with stepped stops at its north end and the wall plate to the east wall has been chamfered with a run out stop, again at the north end. Between the principal range and the cross wing is a doorway with a cambered doorhead. The partition wall dividing the cross wing into two bays may be C17 and incorporates a two-panel door with strap hinges with spearhead ends. The doorway between the C15 cross wing, and the probable C16 bay, has a late C17/early C18 two-panel door, with L-hinges. The west wall of this bay has a possible cruck. Within the attic the three surviving trusses of the C15 hall house have been preserved beneath a late C18 roof. Each truss has a cambered tie beam. The north truss has a collar at purlin level, and a king strut between the tie beam and collar. Stave holes to the principal rafters suggest it was formerly infilled with wattle and daub, and formed the end truss. The second truss has been modified to accommodate an inserted doorway and has curved angle braces to either side. The south truss has queen struts between the tie beam and collar; the collar has been cut to form a doorway. Most of the common rafters survive, pegged into the single tier of through purlins. There are windbraces on the east side of the roof structure. At the west side of the third bay is a stone stack, with a diagonally set shaft, probably inserted in the C17. The roof trusses of the cross wing extend to the west of the principal range. The east truss has a cambered tie beam with angle struts and is infilled with wattle and daub. The intermediate truss has an arch braced collar with smoke-blackening; the rafters have been truncated at the collar to allow the later roof construction. The west truss no longer survives, apart from the tie beam at eaves level. The brick stack to the north wall of the cross wing appears to be late C18 and coincides with the re-facing of the building in brick. Pursuant to s1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that the following are not of architectural or historic interest: The C20 porch to the north and south elevation. The C19 and C20 single-storey building to the rear (east). History The former inn The Hop Pole (known as such since at least the mid-C19) is a late C18 building with a C15 core, and is located at 40 Bridge Street, within the medieval suburb of The Marsh, Leominster. During underpinning works to the building in the mid-1990s, when the cellar was infilled, preserved animal bones and horncones were uncovered at the site suggesting that the building may have been used as a tannery, a thriving industry in C15 and C16 Leominster. The three bays of a C15 open hall house, orientated on a north to south axis, form the core of 40 Bridge Street, and have been interpreted as the service bay, cross passage and lower end of the hall. The south face of the southern roof truss is smoke blackened indicating that the building had an open hall, and this combined with the through purlins, trestle-sawn timbers, and large plain panels to the wall frames are indicative of a C15 date. In the C17 the hall was floored over. The C17 beams are stopped at their north end only, suggesting that at this time the fourth bay, the upper end of the hall, was extant. The two bay cross wing that extends from the west side of the principal range is also C15. The intermediate roof truss has a smoke blackened arch-braced collar and no tie beam, indicating that there was an open hall. The first floor, with a jetty to the west end (now underbuilt), may be a later C16 insertion. The north wall of the cross wing appears to have been rebuilt in the late C18 when the building was re-faced and the brick stack inserted. There is an additional timber-framed bay to the south-west corner of the building with the remains of a cruck to its west wall. Cruck frames are increasingly rare from the C16 onwards suggesting that this phase of the building is no later than C16. The two storey addition to the rear (east) of the building appears to be mid-C19. Reasons for Listing 40 Bridge Street in Leominster, a late C18 inn with a C15 hall house at its core, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Architectural interest: as a rare example of a timber-framed C15 hall house and cross wing; * Degree of survival: the building retains a significant proportion of its C15 fabric including medieval roof trusses; * Historic interest: the preservation of the C15 building beneath an C18 exterior provides important evidence for the gradual evolvement of the building and this is readable in the surviving C15, C16, C17 and C18 fabric.
The remains of a C15 hall house and C15 cross wing, and possible C16 bay, encased within a late C18 inn, with a mid-C19 two-storey addition to the rear. The C20 porch to each side elevation and the single-storey outbuildings to the rear (east) are excluded from the List entry. MATERIALS: trestle-sawn oak timber-frame, encased in brick. Brick and stone chimney stacks. The windows are a mixture of late C18, C19 and C20 timber casements. The roof is covered in slate tiles. PLAN: three bays of a C15 hall house aligned on a north to south axis and comprising the service bay, cross passage and lower end of the hall. There is a two bay cross wing, aligned on an east to west axis and extending from the service bay and cross passage of the principal range. There is an additional bay to the south-west corner of the building. The whole is encased in a brick building which is roughly square on plan. Across the rear (east) elevation is a two storey addition. EXTERIOR: the C15 open hall house and cross wing is concealed by a late C18, two-storey, brick building. The principal (west) elevation is unsymmetrical suggesting the presence of an earlier building behind the façade. It has an off-centre late C18 doorcase with Doric pilasters and flat, moulded, hood. There is a casement window to either side with diamond leaded lights, and three timber casement windows to the first floor. There are two ridge stacks, and a gable end stack to the south elevation. Across the rear (east) elevation is a mid-C19 two-storey addition with a lateral brick stack. INTERIOR: the three bays of a C15 hall house, aligned on a north to south axis, the two bays of a C15 cross wing, on an east to west axis, and an additional C16 bay to the south-west corner of the building are evident in the fabric of the building. The floor joists of the jettied first floor of the cross wing and additional bay, form the ceiling of the western half of the building. The jetties were underbuilt in brick in the late C18. The main post of the southern truss of the hall house and part of the post plate are visible to its western wall, and there is a cambered doorhead in the expected position of a doorway between the cross passage and service bay. At the southern end of the building, in the former lower end of the hall, is a C17 chamfered beam with plain stops at its north end. To the west wall is a substantial stone stack, which has been faced in brick. The timber framing survives to a greater extent at first floor. Most of the main posts of the roof trusses of both the hall house and cross wing are visible, and both the principal range and cross wing have wall frames of large plain panels. The northern wall has been rebuilt in brick. There is a C17 partition wall that runs through the service bay and cross passage with a C17 plank door with strap hinges. The southern bay has a central C17 chamfered ceiling beam with stepped stops at its north end and the wall plate to the east wall has been chamfered with a run out stop, again at the north end. Between the principal range and the cross wing is a doorway with a cambered doorhead. The partition wall dividing the cross wing into two bays may be C17 and incorporates a two-panel door with strap hinges with spearhead ends. The doorway between the C15 cross wing, and the probable C16 bay, has a late C17/early C18 two-panel door, with L-hinges. The west wall of this bay has a possible cruck. Within the attic the three surviving trusses of the C15 hall house have been preserved beneath a late C18 roof. Each truss has a cambered tie beam. The north truss has a collar at purlin level, and a king strut between the tie beam and collar. Stave holes to the principal rafters suggest it was formerly infilled with wattle and daub, and formed the end truss. The second truss has been modified to accommodate an inserted doorway and has curved angle braces to either side. The south truss has queen struts between the tie beam and collar; the collar has been cut to form a doorway. Most of the common rafters survive, pegged into the single tier of through purlins. There are windbraces on the east side of the roof structure. At the west side of the third bay is a stone stack, with a diagonally set shaft, probably inserted in the C17. The roof trusses of the cross wing extend to the west of the principal range. The east truss has a cambered tie beam with angle struts and is infilled with wattle and daub. The intermediate truss has an arch braced collar with smoke-blackening; the rafters have been truncated at the collar to allow the later roof construction. The west truss no longer survives, apart from the tie beam at eaves level. The brick stack to the north wall of the cross wing appears to be late C18 and coincides with the re-facing of the building in brick. Pursuant to s1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that the following are not of architectural or historic interest: The C20 porch to the north and south elevation. The C19 and C20 single-storey building to the rear (east). History The former inn The Hop Pole (known as such since at least the mid-C19) is a late C18 building with a C15 core, and is located at 40 Bridge Street, within the medieval suburb of The Marsh, Leominster. During underpinning works to the building in the mid-1990s, when the cellar was infilled, preserved animal bones and horncones were uncovered at the site suggesting that the building may have been used as a tannery, a thriving industry in C15 and C16 Leominster. The three bays of a C15 open hall house, orientated on a north to south axis, form the core of 40 Bridge Street, and have been interpreted as the service bay, cross passage and lower end of the hall. The south face of the southern roof truss is smoke blackened indicating that the building had an open hall, and this combined with the through purlins, trestle-sawn timbers, and large plain panels to the wall frames are indicative of a C15 date. In the C17 the hall was floored over. The C17 beams are stopped at their north end only, suggesting that at this time the fourth bay, the upper end of the hall, was extant. The two bay cross wing that extends from the west side of the principal range is also C15. The intermediate roof truss has a smoke blackened arch-braced collar and no tie beam, indicating that there was an open hall. The first floor, with a jetty to the west end (now underbuilt), may be a later C16 insertion. The north wall of the cross wing appears to have been rebuilt in the late C18 when the building was re-faced and the brick stack inserted. There is an additional timber-framed bay to the south-west corner of the building with the remains of a cruck to its west wall. Cruck frames are increasingly rare from the C16 onwards suggesting that this phase of the building is no later than C16. The two storey addition to the rear (east) of the building appears to be mid-C19. Reasons for Listing 40 Bridge Street in Leominster, a late C18 inn with a C15 hall house at its core, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Architectural interest: as a rare example of a timber-framed C15 hall house and cross wing; * Degree of survival: the building retains a significant proportion of its C15 fabric including medieval roof trusses; * Historic interest: the preservation of the C15 building beneath an C18 exterior provides important evidence for the gradual evolvement of the building and this is readable in the surviving C15, C16, C17 and C18 fabric.
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