Townley House Mansion

Townley House Mansion, now furniture showrooms, was built in 1792 for Mrs. Mary Townley. It is a substantial house constructed of rendered material with a slate roof. The property comprises a three-storey central block that projects, flanked by two-storey wings, all resting on a plinth. The ground floor is rusticated, with a string course and cornice leading to the roof, which features a balustraded, panelled parapet on the wings. Chimneys are located to the left and right of the central block. The central section has five bays whereas the wings each have two. The windows are glazing bar sashes, with unusually large examples on the ground floor of the wings. A large, two-storey bow window projects centrally, supported by five arches and Tuscan columns. A balcony runs across the entire bow, topped with a cornice and balustraded parapet. The first floor features a central French window, adorned with a rectangular fanlight of Y-tracery design, and deep niches containing classical statues flank it. A glazed front door is surmounted by a rectangular fanlight.

Inside, a simple, balustraded elliptical staircase with an open string is a notable feature, as is the arched entrance passageway. The main rooms have simple moulded cornices and skirting, and the doors feature fine metal fittings. The house was designed and occupied by Mary Townley, a pupil of Sir Joshua Reynolds, and the Townley family were significant figures in Ramsgate society during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, frequently receiving distinguished and royal visitors.