Numbers 1-9 (Consecutive) And Railings Attached To Front Wall

A terrace of nine houses, numbered 1 to 9 consecutively, with attached front railings, now serving as municipal offices. The terrace was built in 1834, with subsequent alterations and extensions. The design is attributed to John Harper, with interior work by several architects including P Robinson jnr. and GT Andrews for number 1. The architecture features stucco on the front and returns, with rustication on the ground floor; the rear is of orange-brown brick, and the roof is a mansard-style covered in slate with stuccoed chimneys. Cast-iron railings, balcony balustrades, and staircase balustrades are also present.

The terrace is three storeys high with basements and attics, and has a curving front with 27 bays. Each house originally had three bays, while numbers 1, 5, and 9 project forward, articulated by giant pilasters rising from the first floor, paired and clasping the corners of numbers 1 and 9. Original entrances to numbers 1 and 9 were located in the left and right returns, respectively. The area has 6-panel doors, with 12-pane basement windows spanned by flat bridges leading to the front doors. Numbers 5 and 9 have projecting porches with paired pilasters and an entablature; number 1 originally had a similar porch, now removed. The remaining houses have pilastered doorcases. The doors are 4-panelled, flush, with bordered overlights, except where altered. Ground floor windows are single 12-pane sashes, except for number 5 which has tripartite windows with sunk panel aprons. First floor windows are tall 12- or 15-pane sashes, with those at numbers 1, 5, and 9 set in raised architraves and centre windows featuring pediment hoods on consoles. Second floor windows are squat 12-pane sashes with sills extended to form a sill band. A projecting moulded cornice runs overall and is topped by a 3-bay attic parapet featuring unequal 9-pane windows on number 5; other attic windows are flat dormers with 2-light Yorkshire sashes or casements. The first floor windows have a continuous balcony with balustrading braced to the wall. The left and right returns are similarly detailed to the main front. The left return has a central doorway altered to a 12-pane sash window and a blocked glazed and panelled door to the left.

Interior inspection was partial. Several houses contain fine staircases with ornate balustrades, and decorative plasterwork including a Greek frieze in number 6. Many original fireplaces remain. The attached railings are raised on low stone coping and have circular sections, with mushroom finials, mace standards, and bracing to the ground floor wall. The railings were separately listed on June 24, 1983.