The question “What’s happening to the period property next to the Queen’s Head in Landgate?” asked so often and by so many for so many years may finally be answered as the vacant property known as 20 and 20a Landgate is going to public auction next month.
The house is described by selling agents, Clive Emson auctioneers as being: “A mixed commercial and residential mid-terrace property in need of repair. The commercial unit has its own entrance, which is located upon Landgate, as well as the maisonette above, which has the benefit of its own entrance from the left-hand side of 20 Landgate.
“The property is now vacant and may have the potential for alternative uses, subject to all necessary consents being obtainable.”
This is an interesting proposition but not for the faint-hearted as being Grade 2 listed there are quite a few hoops to jump through when the new buyer starts their renovations as, according to neighbours, the property has been empty for around 20 years and is now in serious need of improvement and repair.
On the flip side there is plenty of potential on offer to an investor or owner-occupier as the accommodation is arranged as a commercial unit on the ground floor with kitchen and cellar / basement, and a maisonette above with on the first floor a kitchen, living room, hallway and bedroom and on the second floor, 2 further bedrooms and a bathroom. Unusually for a property in central Rye there is a generous walled garden to the rear with an outside WC.
Here’s your chance to buy into Rye and at the same time restore a period building which has been ignored and neglected for long enough.
Image Credits: Clive Emson Auctioneers .
Thank goodness this property is Grade 2 listed. Hopefully it will be bought at auction by someone who will lovingly restore it to its former beauty and it will be lived in, or made into an independent shop to serve best the community.
Thank you for the sharp-eyed article. Would you have a link to the sales website for the house? We may be interested.
It’s easily found on the main property search portals or go to Oakfield estate agents. It’s listed for £200,000. Hope you have very deep pockets for the refurbishment.
I remember buying groceries here when I was very young. It was run by Pat, who I can picture now, in jeans and a sweater! The Landgate was lined with retail – Wickens, the shoe shop, Albrights the sweet shop, a jewellers, the paper shop Blackmans, the hunting shooting fishing shop, run by the Robinsons. Sad to see how Rye has lost the shops of years gone by
https://www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/253/162/
It’s a wonderful building. As Lesley Farrow states I too, as a youngster, remember the shops down both sides of the Landgate: they were wonderful. I also remember when John Sperring managed the Queens Head – but that is still going and a great pub of Rye!. It is sad that so many useful shops have disappeared – Rye now seems full of places to buy loads of candle holders, throws and cushions – c’est la vie and plus ça change as the epigram goes …