Tower and Town, April 2017

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The Merchant’s House

Marlborough’s High Street is replete with historic buildings; however, none of them is more significant today in showing its history than The Merchant’s House. Built in the seventeenth century, following the Great Fire of Marlborough in 1653, the house is preserved as a 'living place' in which people can experience what domestic life was like centuries ago. However, The Merchant’s House is dependent upon donations and charitable funding and unless that is sustained the building would have to be abandoned.

The house was built and adapted between 1653 and 1700 by Thomas Bayly, a prosperous silk mercer. Over the years a fine timber and brick building was constructed, its interior paneled with wall paintings and an oak staircase. This is now an opportunity for us to view a 17th century house as it was. The house is a living place where there are demonstrations of costume making and dressing up. The conservation that is still taking place makes The Merchant's House a special and unusual visitor attraction. Each year many visitors return regularly to view progress on the project.

The Merchant’s House needs funding as they believe that there are parts of the house that could be made more like the 17th century original. They are aiming to raise £900,000, and have thus far reached £830,000. The funding is being be used to help conserve the three-hundred-year-old paintings and wall paper, as well as restoring the kitchen, landings and the staircase.

Apart from donations The Merchant’s House has a few other sources of income, including being rented out as a venue for educational events and entertainment. It is kept alive by a volunteer scheme in which there are over a hundred people. The Merchant’s House Gift Shop helps towards the funding.

The recent donations have been appreciated. They have been used to restore the garden and replace any plants that died due to the winter. A table has been purchased for the dining room, the servants’ garrets have been restored showing how domestic life was.

If the funding were to stop, The Merchant’s house wouldn’t be able to keep up with the cost of renewing everything when it is damaged and the house would no longer be able to maintain its 17th century appearance. This would result in the loss of tourists and visitors, meaning that The Merchant’s House would be shut down and thus we would be losing an incredible building, representing what it was like to live centuries ago. This key educational and historical establishment must be supported!

Joe Pigott and Harry Philipson-Stow