The Old Punch Bowl is a medieval timber-framed Wealden hall house on the High Street in Crawley, a town and borough in West Sussex, England. Built in the early 15th century, it was used as a farmhouse by about 1600, passing through various owners and sometimes being used for other purposes. Since 1929 it has been in commercial use—firstly as a tearoom, then as a bank, and since 1994 as a public house. When built, it was one of at least five similar hall houses in the ancient parish of Crawley; it is now one of the oldest and best-preserved buildings in Crawley town centre.
The Old Punch Bowl from the southwest
North end, showing the early-20th century chimney
The building was originally a four-bay hall house.
The hall house is a type of vernacular house traditional in many parts of England, Wales, Ireland and lowland Scotland, as well as northern Europe, during the Middle Ages, centring on a hall. Usually timber-framed, some high status examples were built in stone.
The Yeoman's House, Bignor, Sussex, a three-bay Wealden hall house.
14th century open hall at Crook Hall, Durham
Tree House, Crawley, no longer recognizable as a 15th-century building
Ancient Priors