Building record TQ 55 SW 381 - 138 - 148, High Street, Sevenoaks

This group of "other residential property" was first built between 1823 and 1837 as a terraced row of handsome private houses. In the mid 1930s the houses were converted into shops with flats above. The terrace consists of three storeys plus basement. Single-storey front shop extensions were added in 1935/36. The upper floors are of buff London Stock brick. Parapets replaced eaves detail in around 1970. Two string courses in blue brick over second floor windows to Nos. 142 and 144 and a shallow projecting string course between first and second floor windows for full width of elevation. Both floors have timber sash windows, first floor twelve-paned, second floor six-paned. The windows to each floor are grouped, two over Nos. 138, 140, 142 and 144 and three over Nos. 146 and 148 with one over archway between Nos. 142 and 144. The second floor windows to Nos. 146 and 148 have painted timber shutters. On the ground floor the shop fronts are enclosed in reconstructed stone frames with square piers, surmounted by classical style vases on stepped bases, at each end and between Nos. 140 and 142, and between Nos. 144 and 146/148 The entrance doors to the upper floors are set in reconstructed stone archways, raised above balcony level. The first floor balconies have wrought iron railings. The shop front of Nos. 146-148 (currently Pizza Express) should be singled out. The original shop opening lintels are retained with piers on each side painted off white with granite plinths. The elevation is divided in three by two square black tile covered piers with a similar pair of piers set slightly to rear and spaced closer together. Simple hardwood doors/windows, two leaves each side set beside rear piers with deep hardwood framed fanlights over. Simple black painted wrought iron railing between sides of overall opening and square tiled piers and returned on each side into centre door frames. (1)

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