Former Dyke Road Hotel

Former Dyke Road Hotel

A purpose-built public house completed in 1895 to designs by Charles Henry Buckman in Tudor Revival Arts and Crafts style, commissioned by Tamplins Brewery. Small extensions were added to the north and east in the 1930s, and a kitchen extension was constructed in 2010.

The ground floor is constructed of brick laid in English bond with stone dressings. The first floor is predominantly timber-framed with plaster or brick infill, and part is tile-hung. The rear elevation is mainly rendered. The roof is tiled with three tall ribbed brick chimneystacks.

The building is asymmetrical, comprising two storeys with four bays along Dyke Road and three bays along Highcroft Villas. Originally the ground floor contained a bar servery to the south-west, divided between a private bar, public bar and off licence, a bar parlour in the centre, a coffee room to the south-east, and a tap room, kitchen and scullery to the north. From 1932 onwards the bar parlour and coffee room were combined into a saloon bar, additional toilets were inserted on the east side, and a single storey south-east extension created a dining room. The kitchen was extended again in 2010.

The principal south-west elevation along Dyke Road is asymmetrical with unequal projecting first floor end gables. The larger northern gable features moulded barge boards, timber-framing with close-studding, ogee and curved braces, supported on curved stone brackets. It contains a four-light mullioned and transomed casement window. Below is a central entrance to the former public bar flanked by mullioned and transomed casement windows with etched glass to the upper parts. The brick plinth has ornamental scrolled ends. The adjoining bay has a slightly projecting upper floor, tile-hung beneath a hipped roof, with a three-light wooden casement, original wooden display panel and moulded bressumer. The ground floor has a four-light canted mullioned and transomed casement window with etched glass to the upper part. The penultimate bay is recessed with a timber-framed first floor and brick infill including some herringbone work, a two-light wooden mullioned and transomed casement and a door leading to a balcony with wooden balustrading. The ground floor has a three-light mullioned and transomed window with etched glass to the upper part and a linked entrance with double door. The southern end bay has a projecting first floor timber-framed gable with moulded barge boards, kingpost and curved braces, dated 1896. The ground floor has a square mullioned and transomed window with etched glass to the upper part and some etched and cut stained glass below. The adjoining low brick wall with window opening is part of a 1930s extension.

The north-west elevation along Highcroft Villas is also asymmetrical with three bays. The first floor is timber-framed. The projecting central gable has a wooden sash window interrupted by a ribbed brick chimneystack with scrolled bracket, which pierces the side of the gable roof. The chimneystack bears a scrolled wrought iron inn sign. To the right is a small casement and to the left a double sash window. The brick ground floor projects around the chimneystack and has a coved stone cornice. Features include a small casement window, a two-panelled door originally to the off licence, and two mullioned and transomed windows originally to the tap room.

The south-east elevation has two bays with a timber-framed upper floor with curved braces to the return of the principal elevation and close-studding to the gable, also interrupted by a chimneystack. There is a mullioned and transomed first floor casement.

The north-east elevation has a projecting timber-framed gable with barge boards to the north and a recessed centre with three first floor sash windows and a small gabled wooden dovecote. The south end has a further first floor sash window. Below is the single storey 1930s flat-roofed extension with a central entrance flanked by wooden mullioned and transomed windows. A kitchen extension was built in 2010.

The interior retains significant original features despite alterations. The original divisions between the public bar, private bar and off licence have been removed, but the bar counter with linenfold panelling, Jacobean style pilasters and mahogany top survives, along with the mirrored bar back featuring etched glass and green tiled surround. The walls are lined with linenfold panelling. The ceilings have moulded beams and ribbed surfaces with diamond patterns. Fire surrounds are present throughout. The front bar has plank and muntin wall panelling and a bolection fireplace. The former tap room retains plain dado panelling.

The well staircase features carved balusters and newel posts with acorn finials. The upper floor preserves original joinery including panelled doors to built-in cupboards, moulded door architraves, skirting boards, coving, floorboards and original fireplaces.