03 High Street
Current
3
High Street
Lowestoft
NR32 1HU
United Kingdom
History
Two of Lowestoft's Our Fallen lived here... Harry Peskett and William Turner
This Grade II listed building was completed in July 1790 for Charles Sloane, 3rd Baron Cadogan, as his seaside residence for the summer season. Brief history/features: A former property on the site is described in the early 18th century simply as three tenements. During the later 18th century the properties on each side appear to have been consolidated with this one when the present buildings were erected. Former Notable Owners: Baron Cadogan died in 1807 and the property was soon after purchased by James Reeve a member of a wealthy Lowestoft family.
James died here in 1827 and in his will he describes himself as “a gentleman” and describes this building as “my copyhold messuage or Mansion House with the offices, gardens and lands in my own occupation”. In 1816 he had married Lorina Farr of Cove Hall, North Cove, sixteen years his junior. She remained a widow the rest of her life and lived here until her death in 1879 aged 88. James and Lorina had six children, their youngest son, Richard Henry Reeve, became the last Lord of the Manor of Lowestoft in 1863. Little known fact: Lorina Reeve’s sister-in-law was Dame Pleasance Smith who lived further down the High Street at No.49. She was buried in St. Margaret’s churchyard in the same tomb as her husband and Lady Smith who had died two years earlier. CREDIT:Ivan Bunn 2021
No2-No3 High Street are both named Beacon House and back in 1865 No2 is listed as the lodging house of Mrs Ellen Snell. No4 High Street is named Arnold House and during the 1960's it was the offices of Cleveland and Sons (second-hand dealers), from 1901 the house stopped being a family house and became a lodging house. Up to that point it was the home of the Arnold family, Dr. Arnold of Rugby and Matthew Arnold, the poet, essayist and critic. Captain Thomas Arnold, in 1718, when he was lieutenant of the "Superbe", he captured the Spanish admiral's ship, Royal San Philip.
Today No4 is separated into Flats, private and rented, long gone are the fancy gardens which were at the rear with their Tennis courts and terrace gardens and have been replaced with overgrown trees and shrubs. CREDIT:Crispin Hook
Architecture
No. 3 High Street was once known as “Beacon House” and was built in 1789 by Charles Sloane, third Baron Cadogan, as a seaside leisure residence. The “Norfolk Chronicle” of the time, on 7 November, reported that “Lord Cadogan arrived here on Tuesday last, where he is building a house commanding a most beautiful prospect of the sea”, while a second account of 10 July 1790 informed the reader that “Lord Cadogan has built a house at the north end, which is nearly ready for his reception”. Lowestoft was enjoying a considerable vogue as a watering-place during late Georgian times and this particular member of the English aristocracy can only have increased its appeal.
In 1720, the site of No. 2 High Street was held by John Barker (merchant) and is described as consisting of three tenements. In the Manor Roll of 1618, William Roberts is named as tenant and he mortgaged the property (a single holding) to Edmund and Grace Pope in February 1630 for an undisclosed sum of money. This mortgage seems to have been a very short-term one and appears to have been forfeited by Roberts, because in January 1632 John and Lydia Barker (forbears of John Barker) were admitted to the messuage on the surrender of the Popes.
Following the death of John Barker Snr. (ship's carpenter/shipwright) in 1653, the property was divided by terms of his will and bequeathed to his wife and two sons. Susanna Barker (second spouse) got the northern part, son Robert the middle part, and son James the southern part. No details as to consolidation of the three parts and return to single tenancy, as shown in the details of 1720, have been found. CREDIT:David Butcher
TM5594SW HIGH STREET 914-1/6/13 (East side) 03/10/77 No.3
GV II
House now converted to 8 flats. Early C19, altered late C20. Rendered and whitewashed brick. Pantile roof. 2 storeys and dormer attic in 2 bays. The ground floor is entered through a 6-panelled door, the upper 2 panels glazed. Above it is a glazed roundel with a brick arch over it. One small sash to the centre. The right-hand side has a 9/6 round-headed sash, also with a brick arch. Two 6/6 sashes to the first floor. The facade rises to a parapet partly obscuring a Mansard roof with 2 dormers fitted with 2/2 horned sashes. Truncated north stack shared with 2 High Street. Internal gable-end stack to south. The rear has 3 stepped elements necessary due to the steep fall of the ground. The middle storey has a deep bow window with three 12/6 sashes. Remainder of fenestration is mixed. INTERIOR. Now continuous with 2 High Street, the late C20 ground-floor communicating door having panelled reveals. Apsed staircase hall with a stick baluster staircase with ramped and wreathed handrail. CREDIT: Historic England
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