Halsey House

Halsey House, formerly known as Primrose Lawn, is a villa built between 1828 and 1832, now converted into flats. It is constructed of stucco over brick with a concealed roof and features an iron window box. The building has three storeys above a basement and displays three first-floor windows. Architectural details include full-height Doric pilasters at the ends, which frame the central window and interrupt the first and second-floor bands, along with a frieze and cornice topped with a blocking course and copings. The layout is a double depth plan with a central hallway. The plinth is visible, and the ground and first floors have 6/6 sash windows, with the ground floor windows being taller. The second floor features 3/3 sash windows, all set in plain reveals with sills. The basement has casement windows. Access to the central entrance is via a flight of steps leading to a four-panel door flanked by sidelights and an overlight with margin-lights, all sheltered by a distyle Ionic porch with engaged Ionic pilasters. The entablature includes a pulvinated frieze and a modillion cornice. Inside, the house retains original joinery, including panelled shutters. A simple window box adorns the central first-floor window. Historically, the house was transferred from builder John Gray to Captain William Broughton, RN, who completed it as his residence. It is part of a development in the area initiated by Joseph Pitt between 1825 and 1842, with the layout designed by architect John Forbes.