46 Park Road And Gatepiers, Newhaven

This is a circa 1860, three-storey, three-bay Baronial-style house situated within its own grounds. Originally symmetrical, the house has undergone later additions to the right and left sides. The central block and the rightmost bay are constructed from stugged, squared, and snecked yellow sandstone, while a rendered extension, dating from approximately 1970, is visible to the left. Quoins are long and short, stugged in style, and the window and door surrounds are polished and chamfered. An advanced, corbelled entry bay prominently features. Gables rise above each of the three main bays, with overhanging eaves.

The south (entrance) elevation displays a full-height, advanced central bay which is chamfered at ground level, corbelled above, and continues to square off at the top. A stepped hoodmould and painted architraved surround frame the central doorway, and an inset blank panel is above the door. A timber panelled door is accompanied by a plate glass fanlight, and flanking windows with projecting cills are present on either side. A single window is located on the first floor. The projecting central gable is supported by timber brackets and incorporates cruciform timber detailing and a tapering finial. Single windows are situated on both floors in the bays to the left and right of the centre, with the first-floor windows breaking the eaves in the gables. Dormer heads are segmental-arched and detailed to resemble the central gable. The bay to the outer right contains single windows to the first and second floors, a ground-floor doorway, while the bay to the outer left exhibits a variety of different window openings.

The north (rear) elevation features an octagonal turret to the northwest, topped with a tapering finial and a weather vane. The turret’s roof is covered in alternating bands of fishscale and diamond slates. Modern additions are present at the rear.

Original four-pane timber sash and case windows are found in the central opening on the first floor and in the bays to the left and right of the centre, on both floors. Two-pane timber sash and case windows flank the entrance. A four-pane timber sash and case window is located on the first floor in the bay to the outer right, while the bay to the outer left contains a variety of casement openings and dormers. The roof is covered in grey slate in diminishing courses. Original octagonal cans are visible on the corniced gablehead stacks.

The interior includes a glazed vestibule door with a timber door and glass fanlight depicting an anchor. A grand staircase leads to the first floor, and a blind round-arched alcove between floors marks the location of the original exterior wall and stair window. A service staircase with a cupola above is located to the right. Some original cornice work remains. The internal layout has been altered to accommodate a new use.

Obelisk-shaped ashlar gatepiers mark the entrance to the driveway; original wrought-iron railings are affixed to the left pier, while iron fittings are present on the right.