Dewes House

ST 8032-8132 MERE SALISBURY STREET (south side)

6/60 Dewes House (formerly 6.1.66 listed as Dewes Guest House)

GV II*

Large house, part set back from street. Mid-late C17, C18 and C19. Fine lime- stone ashlar on coursed squared stone plinth, concrete tile roof, replacing stone slate. A symmetrical 5-bay house with central stair turret at back; large added or modified wing to left brought forward to pavement, and other additions to back. To street is 2 storeys and attics with basement 2+5 windows, all stone mullion and transom 2-light with leading 4 in raised architraves except ground floor, left, two later 12-pane sashes. Central fielded 8-panel door in bolection-mould architrave to keystone under closed segmental pediment and on 3 stone steps. Raised alternating quoins to forward block and right end of main building, plain string at mid-level; one small C20 flat roofed dormer to hipped end of forward wing, and similar to main roof slope. Small stack right gable and at junction of wings. Return of forward wing has single light stone transom casement with leading over a 12-pane sash. Two basement lights to right of doorway. Back has 2 deep projecting wings, centre is stair turret, now set back, with a truncated cross window under a 2-light casement. To left a large C19 extension with glazed upper level to a lead flat; to right the hipped end is over large canted bay with margin bar sashes. Interior retains much of interest, including in bottom left room fireplace with eared architrave to moulded mantel shelf; good 8-panel fielded door in similar lines room behind parlour with two 4-centred recesses, decorative cornice with grapes; dog-leg stair has square newels, barley-twist balusters and heavy hand-rail. Bedroom top right is lined throughout with painted panelling and doors. A photograph of 1948 shows the stone slates, and 2-light hipped dormers now replaced by flat- roofed dormers; the slates were removed in 1963. An advertisement of 1795 refers also to "two large cellars with wine vaults" which were not inspected.

Listing NGR: ST8139632401