 In the 18th century this room was formerly a central service hall that gave access to most parts of the house, including a flight of service stairs leading to the first and second floors, Sir Thomas Stepney's Study, a low basement or cellar and access to the far eastern building now occupied by the West Credit Union.As such this room was, in the 18th century, a busy thoroughfare.In the mid- to late 19th century however, when the Wine Merchants, the Margrave Brothers, occupied the former Sir Thomas Stepney's Study, as an office, they inserted a red brick cellar below the hall with a number of brick built bays with vaulted ceilings to display and store a selection of their quality wines.