South Hill And South Hill House

SOUTH HILL AND SOUTH HILL HOUSE

A large house, now divided into two dwellings (Nos. 42 and 43 Southgate Street), with late 15th and early 16th century origins substantially rebuilt in the 18th century, with further alterations and extensions in the early and mid-19th centuries.

The building is constructed of red brick with a slate roof and plain tile mansard roof to the second span to the rear right of No. 43. It comprises a long front range with a second parallel range behind to the rear right, arranged over three storeys.

The front elevation presents a nine-window range of six-over-six sash windows, mostly with horns. Two principal entrances punctuate the façade: that to the centre left features a doorcase with a pediment supported on curved brackets and a six-panel door set within a slightly projecting bay; the entrance to the far right has a doorcase with pilasters supporting an open pediment over a six-panel door with a decorative fanlight. Gauged brick heads run across the window openings overall, with a projecting cornice band above the first floor windows. The left end has a single-storey outbuilding extension, whilst the right end has further six-over-six sashes and other windows.

The rear of No. 42 displays a three-storey garden front with six six-over-six sashes on both the first and second floors, three arranged within a canted bay to the right. The ground floor contains two tall four-over-four sashes to the left, a central six-over-six sash, and two four-over-four sashes either side of a French window within the bay. A storey band rises above the first floor windows. An entrance is positioned under an arch to the far left.

No. 43's second range to the rear includes two six-over-six sashes on the right end of the second storey and a projecting stack. Its own garden front features a canted oriel to the right with six-over-six sashes supported on two renewed columns, two further six-over-six sashes to the centre and left, six-over-six sashes and a rear extension on the ground floor, and two six-over-six sash hipped dormers set behind a brick parapet.

Interior of No. 42: Window architraves, shutters, and six-panel doors are retained throughout, with moulded archways on the ground floor. Fireplaces are predominantly 19th century in date, some installed in the mid-20th century when the house functioned as an antique dealer's. A late 18th century straight-flight stair with a column-on-vase type balustrade is present. The top floor features four-panel doors and mid-19th century fireplaces, confirming the addition of this storey during that period.

Interior of No. 43: A fine 18th century open fireplace in the kitchen has side cupboards, a mantle shelf, and a rack above surmounted by a moulded cornice. An 18th century fireplace in the first floor sitting room is accompanied by wall-mounted framing, possibly the base for mounting textile covering. Other 18th and early 19th century fireplaces are present throughout. The first floor contains remains of earlier timber framing, including a cranked tie beam and a jowled post.