The China House
THE CHINA HOUSE, SUTTON ROAD, BARBICAN
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1386423
- Date first listed:
- 01-May-1975
- List Entry Name:
- The China House
- Statutory Address:
- THE CHINA HOUSE, SUTTON ROAD, BARBICAN
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Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2005-10-29
- Reference:
- IOE01/12533/26
- Rights:
- © Ms Rachel Broomfield. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1386423
- Date first listed:
- 01-May-1975
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 09-Nov-1998
- List Entry Name:
- The China House
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE CHINA HOUSE, SUTTON ROAD, BARBICAN
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:
- THE CHINA HOUSE, SUTTON ROAD, BARBICAN
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- City of Plymouth (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SX4850054263
Details
PLYMOUTH
SX4854SW
740-1/62/77
01/05/75
SUTTON ROAD, Barbican
(West side (off))
The China House
(Formerly Listed as:
SUTTON ROAD, Plymouth
Westernmost Warehouse overlooking
Coxside Creek and Sutton Harbour)
GV
II
Large warehouse, now a public house. 1650 by John Rattenburg,
extended late C20. Plymouth limestone rubble walls; new dry
slate hipped roof. Large rectangular plan plus C20 wing at
rear centre.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys; 9-window range, the 3 centre windows now
sheltered under an open gabled balconied projection. C20
windows and doors. Left-hand return has a blocked round-arched
opening towards the rear.
INTERIOR: C17 features survive in the end walls including a
blocked chamfered fireplace and the remains of a winder stair
at the left-hand end. There is a segmental-arched fireplace at
the other end. There are some re-used original oak roof
trusses with curved feet, lapped and dove-tailed collars and
evidence of threaded purlins.
HISTORY: 1667 bought by Harbour Commissioners and used as
victualling and naval storehouse; 1697 became a gun wharf for
Board of Ordnance; 1756 adapted as a naval hospital; 1768-74
was the factory of William Cookworthy, 1st maker of porcelain
in England (1st patent 1768).
Despite conversion, this building makes a positive
contribution to the character of the harbour area, an early
example of a warehouse in England, and its interest is
enhanced by its leading role in the development of porcelain
manufacture.
Listing NGR: SX4850054263
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 473810
- Legacy System:
- LBS
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 06-Jun-2026 at 04:57:27.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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