Description from record TQ 76 NW 77:
(TQ 74256866 - O.S. 1:2500 1970) HIGH STREET South East Side II* No 42 1778, 3 storeys with dormers and basement, 3 windows. Brick with open balustrade parapet, good stucco moulded cornice partly damaged, rubbed flat arches, stone cills, stone band and 1st floor and impost to ground floor arched recesses. Sashes in reveals, fanlight to door. Moulded gabled dormers. 3 wrought iron balconies to 1st floor. Stucco swag ornament to 2nd floor level. Good rear elevation with dated rain water head. (1)

Additional bibliography. (2)

HIGH STREET (SW) No. 42 (Cloudesley House) with walls attached to rear. House, formerly bank. Date: last quarter of C18 (MHLG List gives date as 1778 3 storeys with attics, 3 bays Flemish Bond plain coloured brick, painted brick facade. [Full architectural description] LISTED GRADE II*. (3)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
ROCHESTER HIGH STREET (SW) TQ 7468 NW 7/55 No 42 (Cloudesley House), with walls 24.10.50 attached at rear GV II* House, formerly bank. Date: last quarter of C18 (MHLG list gives date as 1778). 3 storeys with attics, 3 bays Flemish bond plain coloured brick, painted brick facade. Kent tile roof. Ground floor has 3 arched openings on moulded imposts, 2 round-headed 12 pane sashes with glazing bars recessed within; central recessed 2 leaf 2 panel door with moulded return and soffit under fanlight with lead glazing bars. First floor plat band, 3 first floor 10 pane and 3 second floor 12 pane hornless sashes, all with glazing bars, under flat rubbed brick arches. Segmental cast iron balconies to first floor windows. Applique plaster swags hanging from 2 roundels originally with "Phoenix Printing Office" legend. Projecting attic cornice, tripartite parapet pierced with 2 rows of balasters. Central hipped dormer with moulded gable. Return to The Post Alley (south west) has 2 half landing arched hornless sashes with glazing bars. Side entrance 2 panel door with fanlight, decorated upper architrave. Parapet with 2 stacks. Flat roofed former banking hall extension at rear c.1800 has 3 sashes with thin cast-iron glazing bar divisions under flat rubbed brick arches. Rear first and second floor elevation of house has 2 16 pane hornless sashes with glazing bars under flat rubbed brick arches. Downpipe with lead hopper, dated 1790. Interior: Dogleg staircase, 3 slights, thin balusters, each third baluster of cast-iron, ramped handrail. Ground floor plan and details replaced, except for side entrance and stairs. First floor landing has plaster frieze and dado rail. Room at front has good wooden architrave door surround with frieze with rondels. 6 panel raised and fielded doors walnut stained to simulate mahogany. Stripped fireplace with grapes and swags in frieze. Room at rear has wooden dado rail and door architrave plaster cornice with frieze with urns and swags. Second floor landing with anthemion brackets. Plaster work all of high quality. Handbill of 1790 for Phoenix Printing Office and Rochester and Chatham and Strood bank at this house shows facade as extant.
Listing NGR: TQ7425368657 (4)

Historic England archive material: BF039712 42 HIGH STREET, ROCHESTER

<1> DOE(HHR)Dist of City of Rochester Kent July 1969 12 (OS Card Reference). SKE41295.

<2> Bldgs of Eng West Kent and the Weald 1980 494 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38085.

<3> DOE(HHR)Dist of Rochester upon Medway, 2nd Dec 1991. 31 (OS Card Reference). SKE41339.

<4> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.