Dorset House
DORSET HOUSE, HIGH STREET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1248821
- Date first listed:
- 28-Jan-1948
- List Entry Name:
- Dorset House
- Statutory Address:
- DORSET HOUSE, HIGH STREET
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2005-03-28
- Reference:
- IOE01/13946/32
- Rights:
- © Mr Eddie S. Holmes. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1248821
- Date first listed:
- 28-Jan-1948
- List Entry Name:
- Dorset House
- Statutory Address 1:
- DORSET HOUSE, HIGH STREET
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.
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.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- DORSET HOUSE, HIGH STREET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- West Sussex
- District:
- Mid Sussex (District Authority)
- Parish:
- East Grinstead
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 39679 37936
Details
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
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 430568
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Sussex Archaeological Collections in Sussex Archaeological Collections - Volume 80, (), 19
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 02-Jul-2026 at 14:33:38.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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