The Courthouse

DOWNTON SOUTH LANE SU 1721 (east side) 5/118 The Courthouse 23/3/60 (formerly listed as Borough House)

II*

Detached house. Dated 1673 on stone corbels on front and rear walls and interior. English bond brick, tiled roof, gable-end brick stacks. L-plan. 2-storey, 2-window front. Planked door with moulded architrave and cornice, to left of centre, to right are two 2-light recessed chamfered mullioned windows and to left is one 2-light, all with hoodmoulds. 3-brick plat band to first floor; three 2-light recessed chamfered mullioned windows. Wooden modillioned eaves cornice. Two 2-light casements to raking dormers. Coped verges to roof with kneelers. Stepped brick stacks. To right is single-storey projecting extension; C18, with half-hipped roof. Left return has late C17 lean-to extension with pair of leaded windows, first floor has two leaded oculi. Right return has one 2-light mullioned window to ground floor, 3-brick plat band to first floor and attic level; oculus to first floor and attic. Rear has three 2-light mullioned windows to ground and first floors, 3-brick plat band is carried over moulded stone oculus lighting stairs. Modillioned eaves cornice. Two 2-light casements to raking dormers. Lean-to to right has 2-light mullioned window to ground floor and pair of leaded lights to first floor. Interior retains good C17 features; large stone Tudor-arched fireplace in large room to right of door, open fireplace in smaller room has chamfered timber lintel with bar and runout stops. Central stairs are boxed-in by fine oak plank and muntin partitions which rise to attic, vase-turned balusters to landing. Planked door with strap hinges to attic. 5-bay roof has two tiers of butt purlins. Stone corbels inside the west and east walls of large room correspond with those on exterior walls; 1673/ Burgh Manor. Founded by Sir Joseph Ashe as a grammar school for twelve boys, in 1673, endowed with ?100 and the profits from two sheep fairs in Downton. (VCH, Wiltshire Vol XI 1980, page 51; Unpublished records of RCHM (England), Salisbury).

Listing NGR: SU1748421419