12 And 13, Montpellier Villas

The Montpellier Villas, comprising numbers 12 and 13, are a pair of houses dating from approximately 1824 to 1828. They were likely designed by John Forbes, who was architect and surveyor to the Pittville Estate around 1824 to 1825. The houses are constructed with stucco over brickwork, featuring concealed roofs and stucco party-wall stacks. An iron balcony and window boxes are also present.

The houses are three storeys high with a basement, and have five first-floor windows, with a full-height, single-window bay recessed to the right. The stucco detailing includes a blind window centrally, the first-floor element having a reeded frieze and cornice on console brackets; a second-floor sill band; a crowning frieze and cornice with a blocking course. Original 8/8 sash windows are found in plain reveals with sills. The main range has entrances to each end, with steps leading to a four-panel door on the left (part-glazed) and a 20th-century door on the right, both set within recesses flanked by pilasters. A ground-floor outshut with a 20th-century door is located on the right side. The basement level has 20th-century windows.

The interior has not been inspected. Subsidiary features include individual window balconies to the ground and first floors on the right, with alternate rod and waving rod balusters. Window guards, featuring scroll motifs, are found on the first floor of the left-hand house. The street was originally known as Montpellier Retreat.