NHER 12910 (Building record) - 15A King Street

December 1951. Listed Grade II*.

November 1977. Field Observation.
Visited by E. Rose (NAU):
House of three bays, two storeys; stone façade (the only one in the street except Number 27) with between two of the lower windows a fragment of roll-moulding. Perhaps 17th century? (Listing (S1) says 16th century and that there is a large hall with a 17th-century staircase to rear).
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU), 2 November 1977. Information from record card (S2).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 12 April 2023.

February 1985. Field Observation.
Interior examined by E. Rose (NAU).
The moulding between the windows mentioned seems to have been part of a lintel of one large window occupying the façade. But the interior has no evidence of anything pre-dating the 18th century, though all is covered by modern decorations. The staircase has turned balusters with dragons carved on the risers; it is said by a local man to have originally been in St Anne's House, removed to Runcton Hall and brought here in the 1950s. However, it has a Venetian window above it, and a very similar staircase with Venetian window at Hedenham Hall is said by Pevsner to be typical of c.1740 Kent style. The staircase seems a little odd in its present hall in some details, yet it is hard to believe the window came from Runcton too.
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU), 27 February 1985. Information from record card (S2).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 12 April 2023.

The stairs have only two balusters per tread; Pevsner says the Runcton Hall stairs had three.
E. James (KLM), 9 August 1985. Information from record card (S2).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 12 April 2023.

See also (S3).

15A was originally listed together with 13A, a house that once formed its rear range. This mid-18th-century building was subsequently separately listed Grade II and is now recorded as NHER 66854.

Excerpt of Listing Description:
"House, now art gallery and associated workshop. Early 16th-century origins, reworked early 18th century. Brick with coursed limestone facade of two storeys and dormer attic in three bays, the entrance in rear courtyard shared with No. 15 [NHER 12911] and reached from carriageway in No.15. Front consists of three flush-frame sashes each floor, with glazing bars. Overhanging plain timber eaves cornice with lead flat. Gabled roof of 19th-century plaintiles. One gabled dormer with a sash window. North stack shared with No. 15. First-floor of north courtyard elevation with a thin Venetian window with glazing bars.
Interior: Most of rear range dominated by a large staircase hall lit by the Venetian window. Remarkable open-well cantilevered staircase. Open string, the strings carved with sea-dragons. Two turned balusters per tread with tapering fluted spindles. Newels are circular section and are reeded and fluted. Ramped and wreathed handrail with matching dado rail. At first floor the balustrade returns to form south gallery affording close view of fine plaster chandelier rose in form of deeply undercut floral swathes and tight floral boss. Floral coving runs round room. Ground-floor east room (to street) with plaster coving detailed with floral motifs at intervals. Eccentric bridging beam plastered in a similar way. Two panelled doors. Chimneypiece with tapering pilasters and three deep recesses to frieze. Minimal plaster decoration. Room above with large-frame panelling."
Information from (S1).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S1) for the full current listing details.
P. Watkins (HES), 11 April 2023.