Now Hist. [OE. sprǽchús (f. sprǽc SPEECH sb.1), = OS. sprâk-hûs, OHG. sprâh-hûs (MHG. sprâch-hûs).] A hall, room or building set apart for speech, conference, etc.; a court-house; † a monastic parlour.

1

  Retained in the place-name Speech-house-Road in the Forest of Dean, Glouc.

2

c. 1050.  Suppl. Ælfric’s Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 184. Auditorium, spræchus. Ibid., Curia, uel senatus, uþwitena spræchus.

3

c. 1205.  Lay., 13036. Þe abbed hit him uðe, & he hine ladde to spæc-huse. Ibid., 13123. Whet Vortiger þencheð in ure spæc-huse þer he spel haldeð.

4

1640.  W. Somner, Antiq. Canterbury, 126. Aforetime it [the Guildhall] was commonly called and knowne by the name of the Speech-house.

5

1799.  Hasted, Hist. Kent, IV. 426, note.

6

1838.  Dean Forest Mines Act, ¶ 54. A copy of all the rules [etc.] to be hung in the Speech House within the said Forest.

7