Dragon Hall

What

A magnificent medieval merchant's trading hall, unique in Europe

Dragon Hall is a Grade I listed medieval trading hall. It is the only known surviving building of its type in Western Europe, built by one man for his own use. 

The hall was built by a merchant called Robert Toppes who transformed the site from a disparate collection of buildings into a carefully designed trading complex combining showroom and warehouse.

The centre piece of Dragon Hall is the impressive 27m long Great Hall which Toppes built as a showroom to display his wares. The Great Hall has an outstanding timber crown post roof and originally had several beautifully carved and painted dragons along the length of the hall. Today only one dragon survives.

In the centuries after Toppes' death the building was gradually changed and divided into a number of separate dwellings. Attic floors were constructed and the timber roof was hidden from view.

A few years ago Dragon Hall was restored and developed with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and numerous other organisations and individuals. The Great Hall has been restored to its medieval splendour and new additions have opened up the building, revealing the many layers of the building's past.

It is now open to the public for visits, educational activities, and hire for weddings and private functions.