Description

TQ 53 37 SPELDHURST GROOMBRIDGE HILL (west side),
OLD GROOMBRIDGE
16/515 The Dower House (formerly listed
20.10.54 as The Old Dower House)

GV II*

House. Circa 1680-90, minor later modernisations. Flemish bond red brick on
coursed sandstone footings; brick stacks and chimneyshafts (mostly original);
peg-tile roof.

Plan: House faces east north east, say east. Main block contains entrance
hall with projecting rear lateral stack recessed between crosswings projecting
forward each end. Parlour crosswing to left (south) and service crosswing to
right (north) although the kitchen was in the cellar below the parlour. Both
wings have projecting outer lateral stacks. Both wings were probably
originally single rooms but are now 2 rooms each. Original stair rises
alongside the entrance hall between it and the parlour. In many ways its
layout and appearance is a miniature version of Groombridge Place (q.v.).

2 storeys with cellars and attic rooms in the roofspace. There is a small 2-
storey C20 service extension rear right.

Exterior: Not quite symmetrical 1:2:1-window front, all flat-faced mullioned
windows, most under low segmental brick arches. There was before 1944 a shop
in the front end of the right wing. It suffered bomb damage that year and was
replaced by the present 2 windows. Some of the other windows were replaced
then but many of the frames are original. All contain rectangular panes of
leaded glass with iron-framed casements. Most were replaced after 1944 but
the gabled dormers, one to each front wing, do contain original glass and the
iron casements have good wrought iron catches. Recessed front of the entrance
hall has a front doorway flanked by 4-light windows. Continuous oak lintel
over all 3 and on the outside a row of 3 segmental arches springing from
sandstone blocks shaped to take the brick arches. Doorway has original ogee-
moulded oak frame with mullioned overlight and contains a 6-panel door. Brick
flat band at first floor level. Plain eaves. Main roof and crossroofs are
hipped. Similar windows to rear, mostly original frames and some original
glass. Very pretty early C19 French window at the back of the parlour wing.
It has a panelled base and margin panes around a diamond pane pattern. In
front a good ornamental trelliswork porch with segmental roof.

Interior: Some minor C19 and C20 modernisation but this is largely
superficial. The original house is essentially very well-preserved. Entrance
hall has a large fireplace with chamfered oak lintel. Other fireplaces are
blocked. Parlour fireplace has a good C19 chimneypiece with a Sussex iron
grate and the chamber above has a possibly original bolection-moulded
chimneypiece. Most of the beams are clad with plaster. Those that are
exposed are chamfered and that in the parlour chamber has a kind of double
scroll stops. The wall framing where exposed is of relatively slight
scantling with straight braces. Roof of tie-beam trusses with A-frames and
butt purlins. Good staircase. Straight flight between wall partitions up to
first floor where there is a short balustrade on the landing with square newel
posts and ball finial. Dogleg up to attics has vase-shaped splat balusters.
Several 2-panel doors around the house. Cellar contains large kitchen
fireplace, wine rack alcoves, dairy slabs and the like.

This very attractive house is one of a group of unusually well-preserved
houses related to Groombridge Place (q.v.) which make up the village of Old
Groombridge.

Listing NGR: TQ5301937634

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17547607

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

• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)