Warren House

Warren House is a late 19th-century house, dated 1889, built for Mr Charles Smith, a Master Grocer of Faversham and three times Lord Mayor of Faversham. It is constructed of brown brick with stone and terracotta dressings, and has a hipped slate roof with tall, elaborately panelled brick chimney stacks. The house is two storeys and an attic, with a basement, and features three windows. A central belvedere has a hipped roof with a ball finial and two six-pane sashes. There are two two-light dormers with curved pediments and urn finials, and an elaborate brick cornice in the style of pseudo machicolations.

The left side has a projecting two-storey square bay with four lights, featuring terracotta and brick aprons. The centre of the first floor has a plain sash window, and the right side has a two-storey canted bay with a pediment above the ground floor window. The open pedimented doorcase is dated 1889, with terracotta pilasters and a six-panelled door leading to a flight of steps to street level. An attached red brick wall runs alongside, punctuated by seven square panelled piers with stone caps and cast iron railings incorporating pedimented features.

The rear elevation showcases a series of cambered headed sashes and a central wooden porch. The interior retains remarkable completeness of late 19th-century painted and stencilled decorations, original light fittings, and a patent air ventilation system. The entrance hall features stained glass in the upper part of the door by Swaine Bourne of Birmingham, with a three-light fanlight and side lights with leaded lights and painted panels depicting birds and floral motifs. The cornice displays stencilled swag decoration and stencilled friezes with fruit decorations. A wooden dogleg staircase has narrow turned balusters, two to a step, and a stencilled dado. There are two round-headed arches with stencilled decoration, and three sash windows with stained glass panels by Swaine Bourne of Birmingham.

The drawing room retains its original wallpaper on the west wall, a ceiling rose, and a moulded cornice. A marble fireplace has lozenge decoration and brackets. Two original gas lamp brackets remain. The four-panelled door is painted with a design of roses by Margaret Smith, daughter of the original owner. The sitting room has a plaster ceiling rose, a marble fireplace, and a voice pipe communicating with the kitchen. The library has a plaster ceiling rose and a marble fireplace with a tiled surround. Stencilled decoration extends to the basement, which houses the dining room, a gaselier, and a door decorated with painted sunflowers, dahlias, carnations, and daisies. A complete set of servants' bells with original Leclanché Cells is still in place. The inner walls are lined with slate shelves. The kitchen has a tiled and marble fireplace and a late 19th-century cast iron range. The top floor includes a studio with a north-facing roof light. It is included on the list for the rare completeness of its original decoration and fittings.