The Courthouse

THE COURTHOUSE, SOUTH LANE

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1023905
Date first listed:
23-Mar-1960
List Entry Name:
The Courthouse
Statutory Address:
THE COURTHOUSE, SOUTH LANE

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Location

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Date:
2006-09-25
Reference:
IOE01/11789/11
Rights:
© Mr Peter Read. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1023905
Date first listed:
23-Mar-1960
Date of most recent amendment:
04-Jul-1985
List Entry Name:
The Courthouse
Statutory Address 1:
THE COURTHOUSE, SOUTH LANE

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
THE COURTHOUSE, SOUTH LANE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Downton
National Grid Reference:
SU 17484 21419

Details

DOWNTON SOUTH LANE SU 1721 (east side) 5/118 The Courthouse 23/3/60 (formerly listed as Borough House)

II*

Detached house. Dated 1673 on stone corbels on front and rear walls and interior. English bond brick, tiled roof, gable-end brick stacks. L-plan. 2-storey, 2-window front. Planked door with moulded architrave and cornice, to left of centre, to right are two 2-light recessed chamfered mullioned windows and to left is one 2-light, all with hoodmoulds. 3-brick plat band to first floor; three 2-light recessed chamfered mullioned windows. Wooden modillioned eaves cornice. Two 2-light casements to raking dormers. Coped verges to roof with kneelers. Stepped brick stacks. To right is single-storey projecting extension; C18, with half-hipped roof. Left return has late C17 lean-to extension with pair of leaded windows, first floor has two leaded oculi. Right return has one 2-light mullioned window to ground floor, 3-brick plat band to first floor and attic level; oculus to first floor and attic. Rear has three 2-light mullioned windows to ground and first floors, 3-brick plat band is carried over moulded stone oculus lighting stairs. Modillioned eaves cornice. Two 2-light casements to raking dormers. Lean-to to right has 2-light mullioned window to ground floor and pair of leaded lights to first floor. Interior retains good C17 features; large stone Tudor-arched fireplace in large room to right of door, open fireplace in smaller room has chamfered timber lintel with bar and runout stops. Central stairs are boxed-in by fine oak plank and muntin partitions which rise to attic, vase-turned balusters to landing. Planked door with strap hinges to attic. 5-bay roof has two tiers of butt purlins. Stone corbels inside the west and east walls of large room correspond with those on exterior walls; 1673/ Burgh Manor. Founded by Sir Joseph Ashe as a grammar school for twelve boys, in 1673, endowed with ?100 and the profits from two sheep fairs in Downton. (VCH, Wiltshire Vol XI 1980, page 51; Unpublished records of RCHM (England), Salisbury).

Listing NGR: SU1748421419

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
319677
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Crowley, B A, The Victoria History of the County of Wiltshire, (1980), 51

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of The Courthouse

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 25-Jun-2026 at 08:32:22.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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