8 and 9 High Street

Nos 8 and 9 High Street were built in 1827 by John Whichcord Senior as the Kent Fire Office and later served as the Royal Insurance Offices. This impressive building is constructed from Portland stone, featuring a rusticated ground floor. It stands three storeys tall and is distinguished by eight engaged fluted Ionic columns that rise through the first and second floors, supporting an entablature. Above this, there is a parapet adorned with an elaborate cartouche at the center, topped with a helmet.

The first and second floor windows are seven sashes set in moulded architrave surrounds, with the original glazing bars still intact. The ground floor showcases large windows with segmental heads, which now contain plate glass. At the west end, there are two equally sized archways that create a passageway through the building into the market buildings, accommodating both pedestrians and vehicles. These arches are supported by four Tuscan columns.

Nos 1, 3, and 5 to 9 form a cohesive group, and the building also groups with the Mitre Public House and the Market Buildings.