Public Library (Former Corn Exchange) To Rear Of High Street, The Corn Exchange The Corn Exchange

The building comprises a former Corn Exchange and public library, situated to the rear of High Street, Rochester. The High Street facade dates to 1706 and was built at the sole charge of Sir Cloudesley Shovell, who was also the Member of Parliament for Rochester. A range behind the High Street facade was rebuilt in the 19th century. A replacement exchange building was erected to the rear, facing Northgate, in 1870 by Flockton and Abbot.

The High Street facade is constructed of red brick with rusticated quoins, and has a Kent tile roof. It is a symmetrical four-window range. A large pediment, featuring modillions, incorporates a blind oculus within a rich stucco frame, with an unbroken cornice returning to either side. The first floor has four tall, narrow windows with later glazing bars, panelled aprons, and projecting moulded blocks above keystones, dated 1706. The central doorway has an elaborate surround: a swan-neck pediment on a pulvinated frieze with carved console brackets enclosing a moulded round-headed arch with carved spandrels on moulded pilasters and imposts. A fanlight with glazing bars is set above a pair of panelled double doors with fixed side panels. A cartouche with lettering sits above the entrance, and a moulded beam on carved brackets supports a large clock projecting over the street. A moulded plinth runs along the base, and a plain polygonal cupola containing a single bell rises from the roof ridge. The 1706 work was originally only a facade. Fragments of an earlier building survive behind.

The Northgate range, which houses the former exchange room on the first floor (now a library below), is massively scaled and constructed of brown brick with buff brick dressings, under a hipped Welsh slate roof. A continuous dentilled cornice runs along the top. The rectangular block is arranged in three bays by five bays with three storeys; the first storey is taller to accommodate the principal room. The Northgate front has regular fenestration to the upper floors. The second floor features three round-headed windows with original glazing bars. Three tall, square-headed recessed windows to the first floor have altered glazing bars, and are framed by brick string courses that rise to enclose them. The ground-floor openings are now arranged under depressed arches with keyblocks, and include two-panelled double doors and two sash windows with glazing bars. A two-storey annex to the left has paired sash windows with margin panes to the first floor, and ground-floor openings matching the main block. The left and right margins have six second-floor windows similar to the front elevation. Three lateral stacks are positioned on the roof, each topped with moulded caps.