PRN 22391 Holyrood House, before demolition, consisted of a main building looking out on the Welland with two wings north and south; the Guildhall at the northern end and an 18th century addition with staircase at southern end. The main portion of house contained many early features - moulded oak beam ceilings to both floors, stud and plaster walls and from such evidence and other items the date of the original house can be placed at about 1500. The original front of house has been replaced, but ample evidence remained to show that, in the first place the house was constructed of brick and 'post and pan' work (i.e. timber uprights with lath or wattle, covered with mud and plaster between). The exterior walls were of brick to first floor level, and above this 'post and pan'. On the front, the upper storey was 'jettied' over the lower by some 2 ft. The original roof was most probably of thatch. In the 16th century the house was called 'Gayton'. Fairfax Johnson, grandson of Maurice Johnson was probably responsible for 'Georgianising' the front of the house in the late 18th century. Fairfax Johnson left the house to his nephew the Rev Walter Johnson in 1818 who then named it Fairfax House. Towards the end of the 19th century, the house was re-named 'Holyrood House' by the Howard family, who were the last resident owners. {1} The house became part of the estate of Maurice Johnson II, owner of Ayscoughfee Hall, in 1743 when his wife inherited it. He allowed the Spalding Gentlemens Society to use it as their headquarters, and they established a Physic Garden in the gardens (replacing an earlier one in Love Lane). The Society's minute books mention exotic plants such as succulents and orange trees being grown here, suggesting that there was a hothouse. Following Johnson's death, the house and garden returned to his estate and the Society had to find new quarters. The house was demolished in 1959 to be replaced by council offices. {2}