Montefiore

A villa, likely dating from the 1840s, situated on Pennsylvania Road. The building is constructed from mass wall construction, finished with a stucco render, and has a slate roof with red ridge tiles and ornate finials. It includes cast iron rainwater goods, ornamental pierced barge boards, and elaborate hexagonal chimney pots. The architectural style is picturesque, incorporating both Gothic and Egyptian detailing.

The plan is a deep rectangle, with a tower to the right return and a single-story projection to the left. Axial and end stacks are present.

The exterior is two stories plus attics, with an asymmetrical front elevation and scattered window placement. A porch, located to the right of the centre, features elaborate openwork iron columns with Egyptian capitals and a decorative ironwork frieze, surmounted by a large rectangular overlight with a single vertical glazing bar. The front door is of two leaves, with a large fielded panel on each. Small-paned casements are found throughout. The right return, or garden elevation, has a 2:3:2 bay front, with a canted projecting tower in the centre topped with a steeply pitched pyramidal roof that has been reduced in height. This elevation features casement windows with lozenge-shaped glazing bars. Picturesque roof dormers, adorned with fancy bargeboards, are present in the tower. Balconies are supported by large shaped brackets on either side of the tower, with modern iron railings.

The left return has a central bay that projects and is gabled. A single-story extension extends from the ground floor on the left side. Scattered casement windows are present, although a single three-light casement window exists at ground floor level. The rear elevation contains scattered window placement, incorporating some modern windows, a transomed window with a bottom-opening casement to the ground floor right, and a small-paned casement with four vertical glazing bars to the ground floor left. A four-panelled rear door is present.

The interior, partially inspected, retains some ground-floor window shutters, an open-well stair, and an inner entrance door, along with other original features. Internal partitions have been altered to accommodate its present use as a hall of residence.

Originally part of a group of three villas laid out in the 1830s—along with Elliott Cottage (now Spreytonway) and Swiss Cottage (demolished)—Montefiore, previously known as Ibsley Cottage, retains the character of a large villa within extensive grounds.