Village Shop

The Village Shop in Brighstone is likely a former farm building dating from the early 18th century. Constructed from stone rubble with a thatched roof, it features a simple rectangular ground plan and a modern square extension at the rear. The building is one storey with an attic. The facade includes colour washed stone dressings, two eyebrow dormer windows, a central modern doorcase, a modern leaded window to the right, and a doorcase to the left with a stilted arch and modern double doors. At the right end, there is a modern leaded casement window at attic level. The rear extension is accessed through a glass paned door. Inside, the ground floor is an open area currently used as a shop, with ceiling beams that do not appear to be very old. Historically, the building may have started as a farm structure and was known as the 'Five Bells' public house in the 19th century before becoming a house and eventually a shop. The Village Shop at Brighstone has experienced various changes in use over its three hundred-year history, but the 18th-century footprint and fabric remain largely intact, showcasing its quality as a vernacular building from before 1840.