This room is part of a brick extension added to the back of Barley Hall, probably during the late 1500’s. The timber framed wall to the left of the door you have just come through was originally the outside wall of the medieval building and the windows further along, which look down into the Great Hall, were originally outside windows.

Look at the window opposite the Parlour door, which is made of horn strips. This is a replica, but horn windows were once quite common in medieval buildings, because horn was cheaper than glass. Cow horns were softened by soaking them in water and then cut and rolled into strips. The strips were not very large because only the semi-transparent central section of the horn can be used.

This room would have been the goldsmith’s workshop. Alderman Snawsell was a goldsmith and Master of the King’s Mint. At least three craftsmen would have been employed to work here as goldsmiths as well as apprentices, but most of the trade would have been in silver or silver gilt. These craftsmen would have served a three years’ apprenticeship and were called “journeymen”, because they got paid by the day, (journée in French).