20, Market Street

No. 20 Market Street is a mid-18th century house that has been converted into an office. The building features a front made of header bond brickwork and a rear of Flemish bond brickwork, with stone dressings, brick gable stacks, and a tiled roof. It is designed in the mid-Georgian style with a double-depth plan, standing three stories high with a basement and a five-window range. The double-fronted facade includes a second-floor band, a modillion cornice that returns at the ends, and a parapet. The entrance has a doorcase with pilasters, a pulvinated frieze, and a pediment, along with panelled reveals and a ten-panel door. The windows have gauged brick flat arches with split keys, featuring 6/6-pane sashes on the ground and first floors, and 3/3-pane sashes on the second floor, all with exposed frames. The building retains its original outer downpipes and lead hoppers, and there are cambered heads over four basement openings.

The rear of the building is parapeted and has a three-window range, with a segmental-arched doorway featuring console brackets supporting a pediment canopy and a half-glazed door. There are Venetian windows on either side and above the stair, with architraves and 6/6-pane sashes, including a central window with thick glazing bars and a left-hand window with plate glass. The first and second floors have round-arched windows with architraves and imposts, also fitted with 6/6-pane sashes.

Inside, the hall is flagged and divided by a round arch on fluted pilasters. There is a fine central rear dogleg staircase with alternating plain and twisted column-on-vase balusters and a carved, scrolled rail, likely crafted by the same artisan who worked on Sir Peter Thompson's House and West End House. The first floor features egg and dart cornicing, original panelling, and marble fireplaces. The rear half-glazed doorways have intersecting glazing bars. The building is internally connected to No. 18 Market Street. This house is notable for its fine 18th-century details and is one of the best examples from Poole's peak period of prosperity.