A historic library building where author Virginia Woolf once borrowed books remains available for purchase with asking prices exceeding £1 million after being listed for several months

Fitzroy House sits on Lewes High Street and holds Grade II listed status, representing what agents describe as one of the town’s most distinctive and recognizable buildings.

Constructed in 1862, the Gothic-style structure was established as a memorial library honoring Henry FitzRoy, created by his spouse Hannah Rothschild, who belonged to the renowned Rothschild banking dynasty.

Fitzroy House, Lewes (Image: Graves Son & Pilcher)

The current listing from Graves Son & Pilcher describes Fitzroy House as “one of Lewes’ most notable and iconic properties.”

The design was entrusted to Sir George Gilbert Scott, a leading British architect responsible for numerous significant structures across the country, among them the Albert Memorial, the St Pancras hotel and railway station, and King’s College Chapel.

The establishment opened as Lewes’ inaugural public library in 1897 and functioned in that capacity until 1955.

Virginia Woolf, the celebrated English novelist known for works including “Mrs Dalloway,” “To the Lighthouse,” and “Orlando,” was a prominent figure in the modernist literary movement and reportedly visited this library.

Woolf resided at Monk’s House in the neighboring village of Rodmell but would visit the library regularly.

The Fitzroy House building was rescued from demolition by the Friends of Lewes community organization, after which the Franks family occupied the premises for approximately four decades, undertaking extensive restoration and reconstruction work.

The property now encompasses approximately 2,800 square feet of living space and boasts impressive ceiling heights.

Among its distinctive spaces is the Fitzroy Octagonal Room, an “extraordinary” area featuring a domed glass ceiling, a wooden minstrel gallery, six feature windows—five retaining their original shutters—and six circular windows positioned above.

This space presently serves as a venue for events and exhibitions.

The entrance hall preserves its original tiled flooring, Gothic-style arches, and stone columns.

The space also showcases a shaped turquoise ceiling and incorporates a staircase featuring cast iron balustrades and a wooden handrail.

The private sitting room, equipped with an open fireplace, previously functioned as the double-fronted reading room.

The ground floor contains a kitchen, cloakroom, rear bedroom, shower room, and toilet.

Additionally, a utility room with double-glazed doors provides access to a south-facing walled garden.

Another notable space is the Clock Room—a central study and library area that extends to an external balcony.

The freehold property, easily identifiable by its clock tower spire, lies within a short five-minute walk from Lewes mainline Railway Station, with journey times of one hour to London Victoria, 90 minutes to London Bridge, and 20 minutes to Brighton.

The property sits within Lewes’ historic town center.

The property has been listed for sale through estate agents Graves Son & Pilcher.