Building record TQ 55 SW 341 - Lime Tree House, 15 Lime Tree Walk, Sevenoaks

This is a large commercial building designed by the nationally renowned architect Sir Thomas Jackson and built in 1882. It was originally a Coffee House, and then became the 'Lime Tree Temperance Hotel'. In 1886, it was also the headquarters of the local cycling Touring Club - hence its unusual 'cycle' weathervane - when a bicycle was the standard vehicle for many. It proved extremely popular for visitors but the hotel eventually closed in the 1930s with the 'Sevenoaks News' taking its place. Damaged by a bomb in October 1940, the building was restored after the Second World War, although thereafter there was a sizeable gap between the side of it and the adjoining properties. It became the Sevenoaks Business Centre in 1996 and remains such to this day. It is a large, ornate building at right angle to street. Style is a mixture of Mannerist and Queen Anne, with stepped, shaped gables on kneelers. Tall, two-storey with attics. Painted render with red brick details and tiled roof. Gabled elevation to street; ground floor has wide doorway with multi-paned fanlight and multi-paned casement window, both under semi-circular moulded brick arches. First floor has pair of 9 over 9 pane sash windows with horns, in brick surround and moulded brick segmental heads. Brick quoins and dentilled strings. Central brick feature resembling chimney stack rising through two floors to terminate below semi-circular apex of gable. West front has full-height brick pilasters framing 6 over 6 pane sash windows with brick surrounds and segmental heads. Initials HL, AJA, AMJ, EJ and FGH on pilasters. Four eaves dormers above. Small cupola in centre of ridge with ogee roof and weather vane. Gabled wing at rear in similar style. (1)

<1> Sevenoaks District Council, Sevenoaks District Council Local List of Heritage Assets (Index). SKE53505.