Dewes House

This is a large house, dating from the mid- to late 17th century, with alterations in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is largely constructed of fine limestone ashlar, set upon a plinth of coursed squared stone, and has a concrete tile roof replacing earlier stone slates. The house is symmetrical, originally with five bays, and includes a central stair turret to the rear. A large wing was added or modified to the left, brought forward to the pavement, along with further additions to the rear.

The street frontage is two storeys and attics, with a basement, and features 2+5 windows. These are stone mullion and transom windows with two lights, and leading in raised architraves, except for two later 12-pane sashes on the ground floor to the left. The central entrance has a fielded 8-panel door within a bolection-mould architrave, leading to a keystone under a closed segmental pediment, and is accessed by three stone steps. Raised alternating quoins are present on the forward block and the right end of the main building, with a plain string course at mid-level. A small, flat-roofed dormer sits on the hipped end of the forward wing, and a similar dormer is present on the main roof slope. There is a small stack on the right gable and where the wings join. The return of the forward wing features a single-light stone transom casement above a 12-pane sash. Two basement lights are located to the right of the doorway.

The rear of the house displays two projecting wings, with the stair turret positioned centrally, now set back. A truncated cross window sits under a 2-light casement on the turret. To the left is a large 19th-century extension with a glazed upper level and a lead flat roof; to the right, the hipped end is over a large canted bay with margin bar sashes.

The interior retains many features of interest. A fireplace with an eared architrave to a moulded mantel shelf is found in the bottom left room. A room behind the parlour has two 4-centred recesses and a decorative cornice featuring grapes. The dog-leg staircase has square newels, barley-twist balusters, and a heavy handrail. A bedroom in the top right corner is lined throughout with painted panelling and doors.

A photograph from 1948 shows the original stone slates and 2-light hipped dormers, which have since been replaced with flat-roofed dormers. The stone slates were removed in 1963. An advertisement from 1795 references "two large cellars with wine vaults," which were not inspected during the recent assessment.