Old Punch Bowl

The Old Punch Bowl is a historic timber-framed building on the High Street in Crawley, West Sussex, England. It is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Crawley town centre and a particularly well-preserved example of a Wealden hall house, a medieval form associated with the Weald of southeastern England. The present structure dates from the early to mid-15th century, although the site may have had an earlier association with local ironworking. Slag found outside the building and its proximity to historic routes connecting furnaces and forges provide context for the area's medieval industrial landscape, but there is no conclusive structural evidence that the current building was itself an ironworking facility. The original house appears to have been arranged in four bays beneath one roof. Its central bays formed an open hall, while the outer bays provided more enclosed accommodation and access to the upper floor. The timber frame was infilled with wattle and daub, and the upper storey originally projected beyond the lower level in the characteristic jettied form. A fifth bay was added at the north end during the early 16th century. The house retained features typical of its period, including crown-post and queen-post roof construction, surviving medieval timbers, small upper-storey windows, and evidence of earlier security fittings. A chimney was inserted into the central part of the building around 1600, replacing the earlier smoke-hood arrangement used by open-hall houses. The property was associated with farming by about 1600 and was then known as Bristows Meads or Bristow Meads. It formed part of a larger agricultural holding that expanded over time through land in Crawley, Ifield and Worth. Ownership and tenancy were complicated, with the Stydolf family of Surrey holding the property nominally during part of the 17th century while local farmers occupied it. By the 18th and early 19th centuries it had passed into local ownership and became known as Mitchells Farm, reflecting the long tenancy of John Mitchell. In the late 19th century the building was divided into two houses, one of which was adapted for use as a shop. The associated farm eventually covered about 70 acres and was at one stage described as Crawley's largest dairy farm. The building's condition deteriorated during the early 20th century. In 1929, E. Messer and her husband acquired the two houses and related farm buildings, reunited the main structure and undertook extensive restoration. Later that year, Captain L. Young bought the building and converted it from residential use into a tearoom. The work exposed more of the timber frame, opened up the interior, created a single entrance, removed or incorporated associated outbuildings, and established ornamental gardens. A large chimney breast was added to the north elevation during the 1930 work. The tearoom, known as Ye Olde Punch Bowle, became a popular local venue and during the Second World War also served community and military functions. In 1952 the property was sold to National Provincial Bank for £2,500 and converted into a bank branch. The bank's alterations were designed to respect the historic character, using reclaimed timber from a demolished church in Treyford and local stone for parts of the entrance and later extension. The branch subsequently became a National Westminster Bank branch following the merger of National Provincial Bank and Westminster Bank. It remained open until 1992, despite the opening of a larger branch nearby. Greene King Brewery acquired the freehold in 1992 and converted the premises into a public house. The Old Punch Bowl name was restored, the bank extension was removed, and outdoor seating and a patio were introduced. The building remains associated with Greene King's pub estate. Its significance is not limited to its commercial use: it was listed Grade II* by English Heritage on 21 June 1948, placing it among buildings of more than special interest and national importance. The Old Punch Bowl is consequently both a functioning hospitality venue and a protected architectural landmark in Crawley.

The Old Punch Bowl is a medieval Wealden hall house on Crawley's High Street. The present building was erected in the early to mid-15th century, when Crawley was shaped by farming and the declining but still important iron industry of northern Sussex. Although archaeological slag has been found outside the property and the site lies near historic routes linking local furnaces and forges, the building itself has not been conclusively identified as an industrial structure. Its first known form comprised four bays beneath one roof. The central bays created an open hall, while the end bays contained more enclosed accommodation and stair access. The structure used a timber frame with wattle-and-daub infill, and the upper floor was jettied. A fifth bay with a crown-post roof was added at the north end in the early 16th century. The roof was once associated with materials including thatch and Horsham stone; it is now tiled. Surviving architectural elements include original or reconditioned timbers, crown-post and queen-post roof framing, 16th-century window mullions, and small windows reflecting medieval and early modern construction practices. A chimney was inserted around 1600, replacing the smoke hood that would have served the original open hall. By about 1600 the building had become the centre of a farm known as Bristows Meads or Bristow Meads. Its landholdings expanded across parts of Crawley, Ifield and Worth. The property was nominally connected with the Stydolf family of Surrey, although tenants managed the farm. John Wybourne occupied it in the 1670s and enlarged the agricultural operation through additional leases. In the 18th century it moved out of Stydolf ownership, and in 1785 it was acquired by a local Ifield family. John Mitchell later became a long-term tenant and a prominent local figure, leading to the adoption of the name Mitchells Farm. During the 19th century the premises were divided into two houses, one of which was used as a shop. The wider holding eventually reached approximately 70 acres and was at one point Crawley's largest dairy farm. The building deteriorated in the early 20th century until E. Messer and her husband acquired the two houses and associated farm buildings in 1929. They reunited the main structure and carried out urgent repairs and restoration. Captain L. Young then purchased it and secured a change from residential to commercial use. During 1930 the interior was opened up, timber framing was exposed, a single entrance was formed, some outbuildings were removed or integrated, and ornamental gardens were laid out. A large chimney breast was also added to the north side. The restored premises operated as Ye Olde Punch Bowle tearoom, which became a popular venue and was used during the Second World War as a military mess, dance hall and YMCA meeting place. National Provincial Bank purchased the property for £2,500 in 1952 and adapted it as a branch. The bank used reclaimed church timber for fittings and local stone for parts of the entrance and rear extension. After National Provincial Bank merged with Westminster Bank in the 1960s, the branch operated under the National Westminster Bank name. It remained open until 1992, even after a larger branch opened nearby. Greene King Brewery subsequently bought the freehold and converted the building into a public house. The historic name Old Punch Bowl was reinstated, the bank's stone extension was removed, and a patio and outdoor seating replaced part of the former banking arrangement. The property is now understood primarily as a Greene King public house while retaining its architectural identity. Its Grade II* listing, made by English Heritage on 21 June 1948, confirms its national importance. It is one of the protected historic structures in the Borough of Crawley and is regarded as one of the oldest and best-preserved buildings in the town centre.

• 1994

  Public-house use established

  [1]Old Punch Bowlen.wikipedia.org

  The building entered its current public-house phase under Greene King ownership.

• 1992

  Greene King acquires freehold

  [1]Old Punch Bowlen.wikipedia.org

  Greene King Brewery acquired the freehold after the National Westminster Bank branch closed.

• 1952

  Converted into a bank

  [1]Old Punch Bowlen.wikipedia.org

  National Provincial Bank bought the property and adapted it for branch banking.

• 1948

  Grade II* listed

  [1]Old Punch Bowlen.wikipedia.org

  English Heritage listed the Old Punch Bowl Grade II* on 21 June.

• 1930

  Tearoom opens

  [1]Old Punch Bowlen.wikipedia.org

  The restored building reopened as Ye Olde Punch Bowle tearoom after substantial internal and external work.

• 1929

  Restoration and commercial conversion begin

  [1]Old Punch Bowlen.wikipedia.org

  The Messers reunited the divided houses and restored the structure; Captain L. Young subsequently converted it for commercial use.

• 1785

  Property enters local ownership

  [1]Old Punch Bowlen.wikipedia.org

  The property passed from its earlier Surrey-connected ownership into local ownership through an Ifield family.

• 1600

  Farmhouse use established

  [1]Old Punch Bowlen.wikipedia.org

  By about 1600 the property was operating as the farm known as Bristows Meads, and a chimney had been inserted into the former open-hall arrangement.

• 1500

  North bay added

  [1]Old Punch Bowlen.wikipedia.org

  A fifth bay with a distinct crown-post roof was added at the north end during the early 16th century.

• 1400

  Medieval hall house constructed

  [1]Old Punch Bowlen.wikipedia.org

  The present timber-framed Wealden hall house was built in the early to mid-15th century, originally with four bays and an open central hall.

A heritage public house operating from a nationally important medieval Wealden hall house, combining Greene King hospitality with a historic Crawley landmark.

• Pub and hospitality venue · 1992

  The Old Punch Bowl public house

  The building's current commercial identity is a public house operated within a Grade II* listed medieval hall house. Its offering is centered on hospitality and food-and-drink service, while the historic structure, exposed timber framing and town-centre location form a major part of the visitor experience.

• 1992

  Conversion from bank to public houseStrategy

  Background

  The National Westminster Bank branch closed after decades of banking use, while the historic property remained available for a new commercial role.

  Action taken

  Greene King Brewery acquired the freehold, removed the bank extension and adapted the premises for pub use, including outdoor seating.

  Aftermath

  The Old Punch Bowl name returned and the building entered its current hospitality phase.

  Source

• 1952

  Conversion from tearoom to bank branchStrategy

  Background

  The tearoom phase ended after the property was sold in the postwar period.

  Action taken

  National Provincial Bank purchased and refurbished the building as a branch, using sympathetic materials and design features.

  Purchase price. £2,500 (1952)

  Source

• 1930

  Conversion from residence to tearoomStrategy

  Background

  After restoration in 1929, the building was no longer treated solely as a residential and agricultural property.

  Action taken

  Captain L. Young converted the premises into a tearoom, opening up the interior and creating gardens and a single public entrance.

  Aftermath

  The venue became a popular local meeting place and continued in commercial use through later changes of function.

  Source

• 1992

  Greene King converts the Old Punch Bowl into a public house[1]Old Punch Bowlen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Greene King Brewery acquired the freehold after the former bank branch closed and began adapting the historic building for pub use.

• 1948

  Old Punch Bowl receives Grade II* listing[1]Old Punch Bowlen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  English Heritage listed the building Grade II* on 21 June, recognizing its exceptional architectural and historic interest.

• 1930

  The Old Punch Bowl reopens as a tearoom[1]Old Punch Bowlen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following restoration and conversion work commissioned after the 1929 sale, the building reopened as Ye Olde Punch Bowle tearoom.

1. 1Old Punch Bowlen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Old Punch Bowl pub listinggkpubs.co.uk