Oriel Villas Numbers 1, 2 And 3 And Attached Railings

Oriel Villas numbers 1, 2, and 3 form a terrace of three villas built around 1826 to 1850. Numbers 1, 2 and 3 have attached iron railings, with area railings to numbers 2 and 3. The villas are constructed of brick with a stucco finish, set beneath a slate roof, and have brick stacks. The layout is L-shaped, with numbers 2 and 3 having a return elevation.

The villas are two storeys high with a basement, and feature five first-floor windows (arranged 2:3) on the main facade, and six windows (3:3) on the return. The stucco detailing includes horizontal rustication to the ground floor, incorporated into the voussoirs above the wide, segmental-arched window recesses, which each have sills and panelled aprons. Wide, channelled pilasters and voussoirs are also present above the door. The first-floor windows have tooled architraves, and are surmounted by moulded bands, pairs of Doric pilasters, an architrave, frieze, dentil cornice, a blocking course, and copings. The windows are predominantly 6/6 sashes, with margin-lights. Windows to the basement are 8/8 and 10/10 sashes, with blind boxes to number 1. A central entrance to number 1, located below the fourth window, features a flight of renewed roll-edged steps leading to a recessed four-panel door with glazed upper panels and overlights featuring lozenge glazing bars and margin-lights. The left return has a similar facade and stepped detailing. Central entrances are present below the second and fourth windows, with flights of roll-edged steps leading to three-panel, part-glazed doors.

The original stick railings to the sides of the steps to number 1 remain. The area railings have arrowhead designs, with bars and dogbars, rod and central bobbin to the railings to the sides of the steps, and wreathed handrail. The interior was not inspected during the listing process.

The villas are shown on Merrett's Map of 1834, although number 3 is incomplete. Adjacent properties were built in 1826: numbers 1-4 Oriel Terrace, Oriel Road.