Post Office And Stores

A post office and stores, likely dating from the mid-19th century, situated on the north side of West Street, Corfe Castle. The building consists of a pair of houses, one part of which was used as a shop. Constructed of coursed rubble stone with a stone slate roof, the building features ashlar stacks, one with a later brick addition at the rear. It is arranged over one storey and an attic, with two projecting gabled wings. Number 16 has a central section and a projecting right wing. The central section has a ledged door sheltered by a stone slate pentice supported on shaped timber brackets. The ground floor displays a casement window with a central horizontal glazing bar, set within a flat, vermiculated stone arch. An attic dormer has a similar casement. The right wing’s ground floor features a canted bay shop window with casements under a hipped stone slate roof with a moulded timber cornice, also set within a flat vermiculated stone arch. An attic window mirrors the others under a similar vermiculated stone arch. A shop entrance is located in the right-end wall, sheltered by an open timber porch with a stone slate roof. Number 18 has a casement window with a central horizontal glazing bar on each floor, set within a flat, vermiculated stone arch in the left gable. A parallel range to the left of the gable contains a ledged door and a stone slate pentice on timber brackets. The building is included on the list for group value.