South Hill And Wall And Steps Attached

House. Dating from the mid-17th century and the mid-18th century. The house is constructed of red brick in an irregular bond to the rear wing, with a plain tiled roof. The front of the house is a regular 18th-century block, which fronts a truncated 17th-century (and early 19th-century) range to the rear. The front block sits on a plinth and features a moulded cornice with widely spaced modillions to the hipped roof, with stacks to the rear left and right. The fenestration is regular, with five glazing bar sashes on the first floor and four on the ground floor, each with gauged heads. The central door is of six panels, set within a pilastered doorcase with a pediment; this is a good quality 20th-century replacement for a 19th-century cast iron flat hood that is now located at Vigo Farmhouse. A blank window space is present on the upper left return, with the sash below retaining original thick glazing bars from the early 18th century. The rear wing has two sashes to each floor on the left return elevation, with irregular fenestration to the rear.

The interior of the rear wing (kitchen wings) retains chamfered spine beams with run-out stops, an inglenook, and strap hinge doors, indicating an earlier building dating back to approximately 1640, and possibly having an earlier timber frame origin, associated with the Wood family. The 18th-century wing joins the older range somewhat awkwardly, particularly on the upper floor. The main reception rooms and bedrooms feature panelling; that to the left of the entrance hall is particularly fine, incorporating raised and fielded panelling, a modillion cornice, a broken pedimented overmantel, and cornices over doors. Simpler dado panelling is found elsewhere, with lugged and pulvinated fire surrounds, and keyed semi-circular headed side cupboards. A fine staircase extends along two sides of the entrance hall, featuring a wreathed and ramped moulded handrail on long turned balusters, supported by carved open string brackets, with fluted columned newels. Dado panelling with fluted pilasters echoes the newel posts.

The house underwent excellent limited restoration work around 1950 by Arthur Cotton of Hythe, which extended to the garden walls and gates. To the west of the house is a short length of wall, approximately 4 feet high, which returns south along the road. It incorporates a mounting block made of five stone steps on brick. The adjacent curving gateway ensemble is a 20th-century addition designed by Arthur Cotton of Hythe, executed in a well-detailed matching style.