Lichgate on High Road

Lichgate is a single-story cottage designed in Tudor style with a steeply pitched roof and prominent brick chimney. The interior features white pine floorboards and distinctive cypress wood paneling sourced from local Florida swamps.

Laura Jepsen, a Florida State University literature professor, built this cottage in 1956 inspired by a centuries-old live oak she found on the property. Her background in English literature shaped the house's design and surrounding gardens.

The house reflects English medieval church traditions through its architectural details and garden design. Walking around the property, you encounter plants connected to Shakespeare's works and a meditation labyrinth that invites contemplation.

The entrance sits on High Road near the intersection with Tharpe Street, marked by a white post with engraving. The compact grounds allow visitors to walk freely through the garden and around the main building.

The foundation contains granite sourced from Georgia quarries, while the floorboards come from a dismantled ship that sailed in the 1700s. These materials from distant sources give the house an unexpected connection to American maritime history.