Description

TQ 4110 SE
10/129

LEWES
HIGH STREET (south side)
Fitzroy Memorial Library

(Formerly listed as No 10 Fitzroy House)

11.5.70

GV II

Library, now house. 1862 by Sir George Gilbert Scott for the widow of the
Hon. Henry Fitzroy, M.P., in a neo-Gothic style. Red brick with stone dressings
and some black brick decorative patterning. Slate hipped roof with bell-cast.
2 storey front block with double height octagonal library to rear. Front
elevation: Stone dressed plinth, stone string-course with black brick chequering
below and heavily bracketted stone eaves cornice, again with some black brick
chequering below. Tall 3-shafted stack at left end with stone dressings and
caps. Finials and ridge cresting to roof, with tall central Gothic-style
aedicular cupola, with gables on 2 levels, finials at corners on lower level and
finial. 3 window front. Central gabled semi-dormer, with stone parapetted
gable and stone kneelers, supported on 2 marble columns with foliage capitals.
Pointed central arch with moulded surround, on 2 further marble columns,
flanking 2-light window with foliage capitals to surround, central marble column
with similar foliage capital, cusped heads to lights and quatrefoil window above.
2-light windows flanking on first floor in square surrounds, both of 2 lights with
cusped heads, central marble column with foliage capitals and decorative stone
lintel. 2-light windows on ground-floor flanking centre, both cusped lancets
in roll-moulded surrounds again with central marble columns and flanking capitals
in surrounds. Central moulded pointed-arched door surround, with inset cusped
decoration in arch, on 2 marble columns with foliage capitals. Large balcony
over with iron rails, on deep brackets, supported on pair of large marble columns
with foliage capitals. Paired boarded and ribbed doors. Right return front: 2
storeys with parapet and stone string. 3 bays with giant arched recesses, foliage
capitals supporting brick and stone striped arches. Plate traceried rose
windows in each arch. 2-light, round-headed windows below with impost bands,
carved blocks and central marble columns with foliage capitals. Interior:
Hall-way with with single flight stair to left, with neo-Gothic balustrade.
Octagonal reading room behind hall, top-lit with wooden galleries on columns,
all decorated with neo-gothic detail. C20 roof-lights.

Listing NGR: TQ4184710206

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Fitzroy House at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q26295885

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings