The Mount, Poynings, East and West Poynings

The Mount, in Poynings, is a large house dating to around 1865, built for the local brewer William Furze. It has been divided into four separate dwellings. The house is constructed of red brick in a Flemish bond pattern, with hipped slate roofs largely hidden by deeply overhanging eaves supported on shaped brackets. It is designed in an Italianate style, with an irregular plan and asymmetrical frontages.

The main rooms are arranged in a single-depth range overlooking both the south and Furze’s brewery. The staircase is placed in a rear turret. To the left of this range is a three-storey tower containing bedrooms and a former library. Behind the tower is a service range that forms a three-sided courtyard. A detached gardeners’ house stands a short distance from the open side of the courtyard.

The exterior features numerous end and lateral stacks with limestone dressings. The front of the house has seven window bays arranged in a 2:3:1:2 layout. The central three bays form a roughly polygonal wing with a balustrade above the eaves. Recessed bays on the right side flank a main entrance with a porch; the outer arch has moulded detailing and a keystone. A plat band runs throughout the facade. The windows are predominantly 2-pane hornless sash windows, with margin panes and stone surrounds and keystones. The tower has round-headed sash windows. A contemporary conservatory, which has lost its dome, sits in the angle between the tower and the main range. The service ranges are in a similar style, but less ornate.

Inside, contemporary fittings remain, including elaborate plaster ceilings in the main rooms, a dog-leg staircase with turned walnut balusters, and a tall stair window with etched and coloured glass. Original panelled shutters and other joinery are also present, as are some marble chimney pieces. The house, alongside the brewery directly to the south and the surrounding gardens, contributes significantly to the character of the area.