Description

TQ 3937 HIGH STREET
(south side)

1/37B Dorset House

28.1.48

GV II

Offices, formerly house. Dated 1705 on rainwater head, but reworking of earlier timberframed building, probably late C16, (owners have been traced back to 1564) and refurbished and extended in late C20. Front of red brick with tiled roof, half-hipped to right, and left side brick chimneystack, rear elevation mainly tile-hung. Front of two storeys basement and attics; 5 windows. Three C19 gabled dormers with vertical glazing bars. Twelve pane sashes in moulded reveals, taller to ground floor with rubbed brick voussoirs. Central doorcase with wooden pediment on brackets, rectangular fanlight, C19 plank door and steps with cast iron railings. Deep wooden modillion eaves cornice and moulded brick band. Rainwater head dated 1705 with initials K T J for Thomas and Katherine James. Rear elevation of higher elevation because of a fall in level of ground, of three storeys and attics clad in C20 tile-hanging with renewed sashes. INTERIOR: Hall has deep moulded wooden cornice and panelling with deep dado rail. Ground floor room to left retains brick fireplace with fine late C16 carved oak bressumer with square strapwork motifs and lozenges. Dado panelling could be C17. Right side room has boxed in beam, bolection moulded fireplace, early C18 type painted panelling with dado rail and old shutters to the windows. Rear right hand room also has bolection-moulded fireplace and panelling with dado rail. The rear room to the left may have boxed in fireplace. Section of C16 close-studded wall frame by staircase, which is late C20, and C19
leaded light window with octagonal panes and heraldic glass. Roof structure of purlins with collar beam of probably c1705. HISTORY: In 1564 Andrew Cole is recorded as the owner and Thomas Wright the tenant. A Thomas Wright was a shoemaker in 1588. Richard Cole was assessed for three hearths in the 1670 Hearth Tax. Robert Mathew, there in c1683, was a shoemaker. Thomas James, gentleman had acquired the house by 1695 to build a town house to complement his country house at Cowden. In 1770 the house was acquired by the Sackvilles for the sake of the parliamentary vote it carried. From 1790 until at least 1861 it was the home of three attorneys in succession. Between 1914 and 1923 it was converted as an annexe of the Dorset Arms. After 1939 a carved oak staircase was removed. Source: "Sussex Archaeological Collections" Vol 80, p19.

Listing NGR: TQ3967937936

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26541009

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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