Listing Text

TQ 3426 LINDFIELD HIGH STREET
(west side)
6/177 No 135 (The Bower House)
10.9.51
GV II*
House, formerly a Vicarage. C19 lettering under the eaves reads "Built about 1300,
restored C16 and again in 1725" and there is also a square plaque dated AM 1725.
Timber-framed open hall ceiled over a C16 refronted in C19 on east elevation with
red brick and grey headers in diaper pattern on ground floor on brick plinth, and
alternate bands of plain, pointed and curved tiles to 1st floor. Half-hipped tiled
roof. 2 storeys and attics; 4 windows, 2 gabled dormers with carved bargeboards
and finials. 4 C19 casements with iron pintle hinges. Wide eaves cornice. The
north elevation has exposed square framing, jowled posts and some curved bracing,
also a C20 doorcase with flat hood on console brackets. The south elevation has
a half-hipped gable, brick ground floor and tiled 1st floor with some bands of
curved tiles. The west elevation has 2 projecting wings of reused timbers and
original multiple external stack to centre. The interior contains most unusual
late C14 post and panel panelling, the posts reduced to thin strips and then
exposed to form cusping at the heads, arched doorhead with durns inserted ceilings
on ground and 1st floors with lambs tongue stop spine beams and joists and an early
crown post, square in section with quadripartite bracing. Frame exposed with
jowled posts and down bracing. Very wide floorboards. (See Mason "Framed
Buildings of the Weald" p 84. The medieval door is illustrated in Mason Plate XIX
and the panelling in Plate XXIII).

Listing NGR: TQ3484925802