Culvertons has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
When appraising a hall bench you should always turn it upside down to see if the original glue blocks that hold the seat in place are still in situ, this will gives you some indication of its authenticity - as you can see from the image this example passes that test. Hall benches were designed to be used and enjoyed, so we do expect a certain amount of historic marking to the legs - apart from adding to its character, it is also a good indication of a benches originality. A nice example of a sought after piece of antique furniture.
Culvertons has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Culvertons Profile Page