Number 4 And Attached Railings, Old Steine

Number 4 is a terraced house built in 1790, located on the north side of Old Steine in Brighton. The building is constructed of stucco with a slate roof and consists of three storeys over a half-basement, featuring dormers in the attic. It has a three-window range facing Old Steine. The ground floor showcases banded rustication and includes a broad, flat-arched entrance with sidelights that are partly panelled and partly glazed, along with an overlight and a panelled, studded door of original design. All windows are flat-arched.

The principal facade on Old Steine features a bracketed verandah on the first floor, dating from the mid- to late 19th century, adorned with elaborate cast-iron railings and slim twisted columns that support a concave awning. The second-floor windows have architraves, and there is a moulded cornice and blocking course. The building has three flat-arched dormers and one flat-arched window on each floor facing Princes Street. Additionally, there is a single-storey wing to the north with a flat-arched entrance flanked by pilasters with stepped capitals, an overlight, and a panelled door of original design. This wing contains three flat-arched windows, with the right window flanked by similar pilasters, and an entablature and blocking course above.

The rear elevation of the main block is faced with cobbles and brick dressings. The interior has not been inspected, but there are cast-iron railings in the area at the front on Old Steine.

Historically, this house, along with No. 3, was part of a group known as 'The Blue and Buffs' because they were painted in those Whig colours to please the Prince of Wales. Nos 1 and 2 were demolished for road widening in 1928.