house place

(in medieval architecture) a room common to all the inhabitants of a house, as a hall.

Origin of house place

First recorded in 1805–15

Susan took her by the arm, and, without speaking, went into the house-place.

Lizzie Leigh |Elizabeth Gaskell
The tall oak clock tick-tocked on in the house-place, and Jane sang on at her churning in the dairy across the yard.

The Yeoman Adventurer |George W. Gough
The rider, after some words with the blacksmith, was ushered in by him into the house-place where we sat.

Curious, if True |Elizabeth Gaskell
At length he pulled Mary aside into a corner of the house-place where Mrs. Wilson was sitting, and began to talk to her.

Mary Barton |Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

If he's well enough to be in the house-place, smoking his pipe, he's well enough to be left.

Trevlyn Hold |Mrs. Henry Wood