Building record TR 34 SW 2283 - Historic Building 32 Biggin Street, Dover, Kent

Summary

32 Biggin Street, Dover. Likely mid - late C19th building, located on the north eastern 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 4158 (21m by 29m)
Map sheet TR34SW
County KENT
District DOVER, KENT
Civil Parish DOVER, DOVER, KENT

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

The ground floor has been heavily inserted for a modern commercial use (now disused), while the upper floors are either residential or used for storage. The whole building projects very slightly from No 33-34 on the southern side but is flush with No 31 to the north. The ground floor covers a larger area than the upper floors. It extends further to the north, below the upper stories of No 31 next door. At the day of inspection, it was entirely covered in a metal grill, over which is the space formerly used for the commercial signage. There is metal flashing between the top of the former commercial signage and the base of the first floor, some wiring runs across this area of flashing and is likely associated with a large aerial present at the roof level. The first and second floors are in a painted brick, there are two windows per floor which align across the floors. Projecting and moulded headers are present over all of the windows and the second-floor windows also have a projecting sill with small brackets beneath, the southern window is missing one of these brackets. There is a plastered band above the second-floor windows, over which is a cornice with decorative scrolled brackets beneath it, two at the far northern end, two centrally placed and one at the southern end of the façade. Above this cornice is a slight parapet, also plastered and painted in the same colour as the brick. On the southern side of the façade, attached to the small projection on southern side of the party wall, is a gutter down pipe which runs from the base of the cornice to the top of the ground floor, where its presumably continues beneath the cladding to the pavement level. It appears to be metal and possibly original but is painted in the same colour as the rest of the façade so this is not clear. There is a small amount of vegetation growth across the first and second floors though this is only slight. The building appears to be structurally sound and in a good condition.

The openings for the former commercial ground floor were not seen as they were located behind a metal grill. There are two windows at the first-floor level, both are timber framed sashes painted white and divided into four panes by timber glazing bars. The windows on the second floor are also timber sashes painted white and divided into four panes by timber glazing bars. These second floor windows are not as tall as those on the first floor and each pane is a square shape rather than rectangular.

The roof is located behind a slight parapet so it was not clearly seen but appears to be a hipped roof covered with ceramic tiles. There is a brick stack located over the southern party wall, attached to which is a large modern aerial. (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: #101745 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 12:32PM