Numbers 16 And 17 And Attached Walls

Numbers 16 and 17 are a pair of semi-detached villas built around 1834 to 1838, designed by architect William Thomas. They feature pinkish-brown brick with a painted stucco facade and a Welsh slate roof, complemented by a cast-iron verandah and porch.

The exterior consists of two storeys with a basement and an attic under the gable. There are six first-floor windows, with the entrance bays on the left and right set back. The first floor has narrow, round-arched 2/2 sash windows on the sides, while the central section has 6/6 sashes, all in plain reveals with sills. The entrances have steps leading to part-glazed, three-panel doors, and there are 10-pane French windows with margin-lights. The basement includes a multi-pane casement and two 3/3 sashes. The frieze, cornice, and low parapet are present on the left, with copings on the right. The building has a central ridge and rear stacks, and the porches display a delicate scroll motif. The continuous verandah at the centre features anthemion and paterae on the uprights, along with a double-rod-and-anthemion motif balustrade.

Inside No. 17, there are shutters on some windows, Regency fireplaces, and a staircase with a wreathed handrail and rod-with-central-bobbin balusters.

The villas are flanked by screen walls, with the left wall abutting No. 15. Historical records indicate that a map from 1834 shows Lansdowne Circus and Crescent laid out for intended buildings. Lansdowne Circus is an almost complete layout of similar villas, with Nos. 1-17 forming an architectural group alongside Victoria House and Nos. 19-57 Lansdowne Crescent, all designed by William Thomas.