39 And 41, The Pantiles

The buildings at 39 and 41 The Pantiles comprise a hotel, later adapted into a shop with accommodation above. Constructed in 1706 as the Gloster Tavern, they represent one of the earliest and most significant purpose-built hotels in Tunbridge Wells. The building underwent alterations in the early and late 19th century. It is composed of two parallel ranges, originally constructed of brick with the front elevation tile-hung. The roofs are old tiled, with two brick stacks, and feature a wooden moulded eaves cornice. The building is three storeys and has attics, displaying an irregular fenestration pattern.

The south-west front, originally the main elevation, retains three sash windows from the original five, as depicted in Kip’s engraving of 1718 or 1719. The tops of the other two are visible, having been blocked in the early 19th century when a further chimney stack was inserted. These windows have moulded architraves but lack glazing bars. Two late 19th-century flat-roofed dormers punctuate the roofline. A late 19th-century brown brick projection extends from the ground floor. The north-west elevation reveals two sashes with vertical glazing bars in the attic and four windows without glazing bars on the lower floors. The ground floor features a late 19th-century shopfront with pilasters and a deep fascia, along with central double doors to the shop and a side doorcase providing access to the upper floors. The south-east elevation has a single sash window with verticals to the attic, a 16-pane sash to the second floor, and two 12-pane sashes to the first floor. The ground floor entrance and two windows were boarded over at the time of inspection, although the windows appeared to be sashes with glazing bars.

The most significant interior feature is a fine staircase dating from around 1706. It consists of two flights at right angles from the ground floor to the first floor, with two turned balusters to each step, scrolled tread ends and column newels. The staircase changes in character from the second floor to the attic, transitioning to a well, then a straight flight with thicker balusters. First-floor rooms retain old floorboards and some two-panelled doors, but were refurbished in the late 19th century with florid panelling including dados with quatrefoils or anthemions, linenfold panelling on doors, and fireplaces with pilasters and tiled surrounds. The second-floor south-east room retains an 18th-century moulded cornice and visible corner posts. A panelled cupboard with a two-panelled door is also present. An adjacent room features a similar moulded cornice, an exposed beam with a 3-inch chamfer, and a 19th-century basket grate, along with further chamfered beams and two-panelled doors. The attic preserves original roof timbers with pegged rafters and some plank doors, one with a wooden latch and pintle hinges. Notably, an original link connects the two building ranges at attic level, as depicted in Kip's engraving of around 1718; it provided staircase access to the front range of attics. Kip’s engraving also suggests the presence of an original internal walkway on the north-west side, mimicking the colonnade on the other side of The Pantiles.