The Shambles, Bank Street and Dorset Street The triangular area bounded by London Road, the High Street, and Dorset Street and including Bank Street and The Shambles lay at the heart of the old town. It is now an intricate and attractive area where many of the buildings have early origins and complex histories of use and alteration. Several buildings have clear medieval roots and their uses have sometimes involved long continuity. Where buildings have disappeared, the probable medieval plan is preserved in sharp corners and odd angles. Because the buildings are still in active occupation, it is often impossible to trace the architectural history. It can even be tricky to follow the changing postal addresses. The best picture of the structure of this area is that of the Ordnance Survey map of 1867. This emphasises the importance of the former Methodist Chapel, with associated school and ministers’ accommodation which lies between Dorset and Bank Streets and the important building with complex occupational history described in 1867 as the County Court and Corn Market. The ground floor of the former Methodist complex is occupied by several shops and cafes. Some of those shops also occupy the first floor, but a large part of it is used as a restaurant. Externally, the original structure remains largely unchanged at first floor level.
Coverage in this survey can be only very compressed but indicates buildings and areas that would repay more detailed investigation. This area was not covered in the previous survey. The Shambles Although this small square lies at the heart of the old centre of Sevenoaks, it is composed largely of the backs of shops which front London Road and the High Street. Efforts have been made over the years to improve the townscape, most recently the addition of murals and revised hard landscape and subsequently planters, parasol and tables from Malabar cafe. Note that the lane leading from Dorset Street and the space into which it opens are both termed – and have addresses in – The Shambles.
