History
THE MERCHANT'S HOUSE 
- The House of Thomas Bayly, Silk Merchant, was built following the Great Fire of Marlborough in 1653.
- Over the years 1653 to 1700 a fine timber and brick building was constructed, its interior brilliant with wall paintings, panelling and a commanding oak staircase. A substantial amount of this fabric survives and previously hidden painted decoration is still being revealed.
- The facade and rooms fronting the High Street are timber-framed with tile hanging. The rear is a wing of brick construction.
- Thomas Bayly was a prosperous silk mercer whose lifestyle is reflected in the spacious and elegant rooms. Contrary to populist literature, the typical Puritan 'middling' household enjoyed music, alcohol and bright and cheerful clothes and surroundings. Recent researches have shown that domestic life was lived to the full, although religion was a central and guiding influence on all.
- Click on each room to view special features:
THE MERCHANT'S HOUSE TRUST
- The freehold of the western two-thirds of the House was purchased by the Marlborough Town Council and leased to the Merchant's House Trust, a registered charity, in March 1991.
- A peppercorn rent, a bag of peppercorn plus £1.00, is the yearly rent paid for the lease by the Trust.
- The Merchant's House Trust has undertaken to restore the House as a representative 17th century merchant's town house.
- Many thousands of pounds have already been raised and spent on restoring and refurnishing the building but many more will be needed to complete the task. The time scale depends on the flow of donations and grants, funds raised by the Friends of the Trust through events, and profits of the Shop which is a subsidiary company of the Trust.
- The freehold of the property forming the eastern one-third of the building was purchased by the Trust in 1999 but is currently let out. It will eventually be incorporated into the general development of the House.
©copyright The Merchant's House 2005 |
