Range Of Former Dartford Union Workhouse Facing On To West Hill

The building is a range of the former Dartford Union Workhouse, dating from around 1838, with later alterations. The east wing may be a mid-19th century addition, as indicated on the Ordnance Survey map from 1868. The middle and west wings were refurbished after 1909, with the 1909 map showing a through-passage in the middle wing. The structure features yellow stock brick walls, with the middle and west wings having ashlar dressings, and a double-pitched slate roof on the east wing.

The east wing has three storeys, with eight blocked ground floor windows, eight sash windows with glazing bars on the first floor, and four windows on the second floor. Inside, there is a first-floor dormitory above a mid-19th century women's hall, which includes a 19th-century fireplace surround at each end, and a northwest fireplace surround on the second floor. There are two straight baluster iron and stone staircases from the 19th century. The former ground floor register office has a 19th-century fireplace surround with angle blocks, and the former strong room features mortices for a strong room door.

The middle and west wings are two storeys high, with a brick parapet topped by an ashlar cornice and blocking course. They have sash windows with glazing bars. The middle wing includes a band and modillions on the cornice, with four bays on each side of a central projecting bay. This bay, originally a through-passage, has been faced with ashlar since the early 20th century, featuring a Venetian doorway with a panelled door and fanlight at ground level, a three-light window on the first floor, and a segmental pediment. The windows have rubbed brick arches and aprons beneath the first-floor windows. Inside, there is a former board room at the rear with a coved cornice and tall sash windows, and early 20th-century stairs replacing the 19th-century through-passage. The first floor has a 19th-century pilastered fireplace surround. The east wing's windows have eaved ashlar architraves, with four on the first floor and two below, including one paired window. The interior features a fireplace surround from around 1900 on the first floor and a four-panelled door. The mid-19th century functions of the range are clearly shown on the Ordnance Survey map from 1868.