Property description

A unique opportunity to acquire this exceptional piece of Lewes History. Arranged over two floors the accommodation presently totals some 2,800 sq ft including the stunning reception room with octagonal balcony at first floor level and an Octagonal roof light highlighting the ornate clock tower.Now requiring updating and refurbishment the property offers a wonderful opportunity to create a truly individual property of immense character.


A unique opportunity to acquire this exceptional piece of Lewes history, situated on the corner of High Street and Friars walk originally built in 1862 as the Fitzroy Memorial Library, designed by renowned architect Sir George Gilbert Scott. Adopted in 1897 by the town as a public library and remained so until 1958 when the library was moved to Albion Street.Taken on as office premises the property stood empty for five years when deemed no longer viable as office premises and was subsequently partly demolished before an emergency grade II preservation order and listing was applied to prevent full demolition.The current owners took on the property in 1976 as a self-build restoration project and two years later took up residence.Ideally situated in the centre of Lewes, readily accessible to the town amenities including railway station, shopping facilities, restaurants and café bars.Arranged over two floors the accommodation presently totals some 2,800 sq ft including the stunning reception room with octagonal balcony at first floor level and an Octagonal roof light highlighting the ornate clock tower.Now requiring updating and refurbishment the property offers a wonderful opportunity to create a truly individual property of immense character.The accommodation comprises a 19'6 x 16'0 entrance hall with original Gothic Victorian pillars and tessellated tiled floor, a bedroom with en-suite shower, bedroom 2, study/bedroom 3, snug/bedroom 4, bathroom, WC/shower, Reception room 36' x 36', kitchen with dining area, first floor living room, rear yard with off street parking, arranged more particularly as follows:

FIRST FLOOR

Galleried Landing
Access to roof space.

Bedroom 2 - Irregular shape measuring overall 15' 6'' x 8' 3'' (4.72m x 2.51m)
Internal secondary glazing, coving, period fireplace surround with cast iron grate (original), (note: bedroom has a lowered ceiling) door through to:

Bathroom
Semi-sunken bath having shower attachment, shower screens, low-level WC, pedestal washbasin, wall mounted radiator, linen cupboard with pre-insulated cylinder tank and fitted immersion heater and Potterton digital programmer for central heating, automatic light, to the rear of the pedestal washbasin is a fire surround and original fire place, strip light and shaver point.

Archway through to:

Inner Landing
Wood block flooring, through to:

Study/Bedroom 3 - 13' 0'' x 7' 3'' (3.96m x 2.21m)
Parquet flooring, shelved cupboard, picture rail, ornate arched display window with ¾ height doors giving access to balcony and secondary double-glazed, electric control panel for the external clock, access to roof space, door through to:

Double Aspect Sitting Room - 20' 0'' x 14' 6'' (6.09m x 4.42m)
Parquet flooring, ornate original fireplace surround with stone hearth and fitted wood burner stove, two recessed alcoves with book shelving, internal secondary double-glazed windows, fin under floor radiators.

Octagonal First Floor Gallery - 0' 0'' x 0' 0'' (0.00m x 0.00m)
3'6 (1.06m) width widening in the corners, area 12' x 11'6 (3.656m x 3.50m)

Feature Entrance Hall - 20' 0'' x 15' 0'' (6.09m x 4.57m)
Part tessellated tiled floor, archway, original front door, original tessellated tiled flooring, original internal doors into the large reception area, pillar work is original, understairs storage space.

L-Shaped Kitchen/Dining Room - Measuring overall16' 6'' x 14' 6'' (5.03m x 4.42m)
Range of wall and floor units incorporating cupboards, drawers, work surfaces, inset Hotpoint double oven and grill, stainless steel sink unit with mixer tap, Smeg four burner stainless steel gas hob with extractor hood over, space and plumbing for dishwasher, original shutters to the windows, heater, dining area: quarry tiled floor, part pine panelled walls, internal secondary double-glazed window, (most of the panelling in the dining room is original, as is the tiling to the floor) breakfast table made for library, door through to:

Boiler Room
Floor mounted gas fired central heating boiler, return door to:

Master Bedroom - 19' 9'' x 14' 6'' (6.02m x 4.42m)
Lovely room, again double aspect with ¾ height wood panelling, all original, original fireplace with cast iron inset, built in wardrobe cupboards with original panelling behind, en-suite shower room: shower cubicle with Triton electric shower, vanity unit with inset wash hand basin and cosmetic cupboard below with louvre doors, low-level WC, original wood panelling, medicine cabinet with mirror fronted sliding doors, electric light and shaver point.

Double Doors Opening Onto:

Magnificent reception Room - 36' 9'' x 36' 9'' (11.19m x 11.19m)
Tiled floor, ornamental fishpond with fountain, ornately shaped windows with frosted glass and with original shutters, (one set of shutters missing. There's also an original doorway into the Master Bedroom, where the shower cubicle is.Glazed door through to:

Inner Hallway
Stone flagged floor, beamed ceiling, external door, original full height door.

Snug/Bedroom 4 - 11' 3'' x 8' 9'' (3.43m x 2.66m)
Fitted gas fire, shelved recess, secondary double-glazed window, original doorway into the Octagon Room, which has been closed up at the present time, but could be re-opened.Further Hallway

Original Toilet
High level cistern, tiling to walls and tiling to floor, wash hand basin with water heater, shower cubicle with mixer valve, through to:

Workshop Area
With basement area under, which is the size of the workshop and the passageway, Workshop Area: 5'6 x 5' (1.67m x 1.52m) door through to:

Utility Room - 10' 3'' x 7' 3'' (3.12m x 2.21m)
Tiled floor, original Butler sink, Heatrae Sadia water heater, glazed doors giving access to:

Rear Yard
Access onto Friars Walk, off street parking for possibly two cars, partly flint walled, flowerbeds.VIEWING THROUGH VENDORS SOLE AGENTS GRAVES SON & PILCHER LLP 01273 321123