Building record TR 34 SW 2267 - Historic Building 43 Biggin Street, Dover, Kent

Summary

43 Biggin Street, Dover. Likely late C19th building located on the south western side of Biggin Street, with a commercial and domestic use. Currently (2019) in a good condition. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Location

Grid reference Centred TR 3185 4153 (20m by 21m)
Map sheet TR34SW
County KENT
District DOVER, KENT
Civil Parish DOVER, DOVER, KENT

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

The ground floor is heavily inserted for a modern commercial use and retains none of its original features. The upper floors are in a painted (cream) brick and retain many of the original and decorative architectural features. At the first-floor level there are two blocked (with plywood?) openings where, until recently, there were two oriel bay windows. The brackets which would have held these in place are still visible through the boards. There are two string courses, one at the base and another at the top of the opening, though these are slightly obscured by the boards covering the windows. Between the two openings there is a small statue of a bear sat on a decorative plinth, presumably used for advertising, with its paws arranged as if holding something (possibly a flag) which has since been lost. There are two windows on the second floor with moulded plaster surrounds, these align with the blocked windows on the floor below. A string course located at the base of the windows forms a continuous sill and there is a further string course attached to a keystone above the windows. There is a moulded cornice with dentil detailing at the base of the roof level. Between this cornice and the string course above the second-floor windows, is some elaborate plasterwork detailing, including a date stone which gives a date of 1895 for the construction of this building. At the roof level, which is mansard, there are two elaborate dormer windows aligning with the second-floor windows. The surrounds of the windows have triangular pediments over and plaster pilasters on each side with scrolled capitals. Alongside these pilasters surrounding the dormers, there are also pilasters located over both party walls, these are decoratively moulded and start at the base of the first floor and continue up to the roof level. Overall the building appears to be structurally sound and in a good condition. The loss of the oriel bay windows has removed an attractive original feature from this façade. The lack of a replacement of the first-floor windows leaves the first floor of this building looking bare, especially when compared with the elaborate decoration over the second floor.

The ground floor is heavily inserted for former commercial use (currently empty). There is a large glazed double door on the northern side, set slightly back from the pavement within a small recessed area, and a large floor to ceiling window on the southern side of this door, consisting of a large single pane. All of the frames appear to be metal. The first floor windows are blocked by two large boards, until recently there were two oriel bay windows here. On the second floor the two windows align with the former location of the first floor widows. They are both timber framed sashes with just two large panes. The dormer windows also align with the windows on the lower floor and are again timber sashes, this time divided into four panes by timber glazing bars.

Not clearly seen but is a slate mansard roof with metallic flashing over the angles. There is a slight parapet over the party walls with a rendered stack over the ridge on both sides. The whole of the roof area is covered in a mesh, presumably to prevent nesting birds. (1)


<1> Kent County Council, 2019, Historic building condition asseesment and photographic survey of Dover Town Centre (Unpublished document). SKE52120.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1>XY Unpublished document: Kent County Council. 2019. Historic building condition asseesment and photographic survey of Dover Town Centre. [Mapped feature: #101729 Building, ]

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

  • Non-Intrusive Event: Walkover and photographic survey of Dover Town - Area 1 Town Centre (EKE19202)
  • Event Boundary: Walkover and photographic survey of Dover Town Centre (EKE19201)

Record last edited

Jun 19 2019 12:31PM