Numbers 1-8 And Attached Railings

Numbers 1-8 and attached railings form a terrace of houses built between 1845 and 1850 in Brighton. They were constructed by the Cheesemans for W Percival Boxall, who had acquired the land from Thomas Cubitt; the design is possibly by George Cheeseman Jr. The buildings are stucco-faced with a roof obscured by a blocking course.

The terrace is a classic example of Regency Revival style, with each house originally featuring three windows over a half basement. The elevations are treated as full-height and nearly full-width segmental bays. A common design is followed for all houses except the end unit, number 1. Steps lead to an entrance set at the right party wall, with a flat arched doorway including an overlight, framed by Tuscan pilasters and an entablature. Number 3's entrance is now through number 4, and together with number 5, these form the Royal Promenade Hotel. The first-floor windows extend the full height and open onto a segmental balcony supported by cast-iron brackets and enclosed by cast-iron railings. Windows are flat-arched with architraves, with additional entablatures and cornices to the first and second floors; second and third-floor window sills are supported by console brackets. A dentil cornice forms the attic sill band, with the centre window blocked in all but numbers 1, 2 and 6. Original sash windows are retained: 6/6 and 4/4 to the ground and first floors of numbers 1 and 2 respectively; 6/6 to the second floor of numbers 1 and 2, top sashes only to numbers 7 and 8; 3/6 to the third floor of numbers 1 and 2; and 3/3 to the attics of numbers 1-5 and 8.

Number 1 has two flat-arched entrances on the return to Eaton Place, one filled in and now a window. The return elevation has a nine-window range, all flat-arched with projecting sills, with corner windows blocked. Each window in the entrance range has a tripartite architrave, the side lights blocked. Full-height segmental bays of two windows rise to the left of each entrance, clad in stucco.

The interior has not been inspected. The buildings are accompanied by railings to stairways and areas. Notable former residents included Sir James Knowles, architect and writer, who lived in number 4, and the philosopher Herbert Spencer, who lived in number 5. Designation initially covered numbers 1-10, but number 10 collapsed in 1987. Number 9 was subsequently demolished. Numbers 7 and 8 are currently vacant and in poor condition.