Nos. 8 And 9 With Railings

A pair of houses, numbers 8 and 9, located at the end of a short terrace in Beauford Square, were originally designed around 1730 by John Strahan and remodelled around 1760. The houses are constructed of limestone ashlar with a double Roman tile roof. They form a corner block featuring a high mansard with a hipped return. The entrance to number 8 is on the east side, and to number 9 on the north side.

The houses are three storeys high, with an attic and basement, each containing one bay. They have twelve-pane sash windows in plain reveals. Dormer windows with paired casements are situated above paired windows at each level. Number 9 has separate sashes within sunk drafted surrounds at ground floor level. The basement has paired sashes, with a doorway to number 9. The central entrance has a six-panel door with a three-pane transom light, set beneath a segmental pediment supported by fluted pilasters with consoles. A blind light sits above the door. A small cornice and blocking course are topped by a parapet, featuring a deep stack to the left and another stack at the central party wall.

The return side on the right has two small dormers above a pair of small twelve-pane sashes at the second and first floors, with a further blind pair to the left at the first floor. The ground floor has one sash to the right, and a central six-panel door with a three-pane transom light and slab hood on shaped brackets; the head of a small basement light breaks into the plinth to the right. This front has two platbands, which do not return to the main front, and a cornice with a parapet. The interiors have not been inspected.

The houses are surrounded by simple railings on a stone curb, which return at the doorways. This development represents an attempt to create an architecturally coherent square, distinct from the style of John Wood, and represents an important stage in the growth of Bath. The development possesses great group value with the Theatre Royal. Originally an important corner house in the layout, the only identifiable detail from Strahan's original design is the doorway, either retained or resited in its current position.