The Courthouse

The Courthouse is a detached house dating to 1673, originally known as Borough House. It was founded by Sir Joseph Ashe as a grammar school for twelve boys, endowed with £100 and profits from two sheep fairs in Downton. The building is constructed of English bond brick with a tiled roof and has gable-end brick stacks. It is arranged in a roughly L-shaped plan.

The two-storey, two-window front features a planked door with a moulded architrave and cornice, situated to the left of centre. To the right of the door are two recessed chamfered mullioned windows, and one further 2-light recessed chamfered mullioned window to the left, all with hood moulds. A three-brick plat band runs along the first floor, above which are three recessed chamfered mullioned windows. A wooden modillioned eaves cornice runs along the roofline. There are two 2-light casement windows to raking dormers. The roof has coped verges and kneelers. Stepped brick stacks are also present. A single-storey projecting extension, dated to the 18th century, is located to the right, with a half-hipped roof. The left return features a late 17th century lean-to extension with a pair of leaded windows. First floor oculi are also visible on the left return. The right return has a single 2-light mullioned window to the ground floor, the 3-brick plat band to the first floor and attic level, and an oculus to both the first floor and attic.

The rear of the building displays three 2-light mullioned windows to both the ground and first floors, with the 3-brick plat band extended to incorporate a moulded stone oculus lighting the stairs. Modillioned eaves continue. Two 2-light casements are present in raking dormers. A lean-to to the right has a 2-light mullioned window to the ground floor and a pair of leaded lights to the first floor.

The interior retains a number of good 17th century features, including a large stone Tudor-arched fireplace with a large room to the right of the door, and an open fireplace in a smaller room, featuring a chamfered timber lintel with a bar and run-out stops. A central staircase is enclosed by fine oak plank and muntin partitions, which extend to the attic, incorporating vase-turned balusters to the landing. An attic is accessed via a planked door with strap hinges. The roof is five-bay, with two tiers of butt purlins. Stone corbels inside the west and east walls of the large room correspond with those on the exterior walls and are dated 1673/Burgh Manor.