Numbers 1-12 (Consecutive) And Attached Basement Area Railings

Numbers 1-12 Ordnance Terrace form a terrace of twelve early 19th century houses in Chatham. The construction is primarily brick, with slate-hung returns on the right-hand side, rendered timber-framed backs, brick party wall stacks, and a slate roof. The architectural style is Late Georgian.

The houses are arranged with a double-depth plan, and each has three storeys and a basement. They retain a uniform appearance, with ground-floor openings recessed and surrounded by rubbed brick arches, linked by channelled imposts, a thin cornice, and a parapet. Number 1 is set forward. The basement area of Number 1 is sunken. The front doors have six raised panels and original fanlights remain within numbers 3 and 4. The windows are largely 6/6-pane sashes to the ground and first floors, with 3/3-pane sashes to the second floor. Numbers 9 and 12 feature mid-19th century canted bays with column mullions.

The interiors have been largely altered, though originally they contained a dogleg staircase with stick balusters and column newels.

Attached to the terrace are iron and late 20th century steel basement area railings.

Number 11 was the home of Charles Dickens and his family from 1817 to 1821, while his father worked at the Navy Yard. The rear returns are notable for the late use of wood in their construction. Numbers 1-10 (consecutive) and Number 12 were originally listed on 23 October 1969.