37, Montpellier Villas

CHELTENHAM

SO9421NE MONTPELLIER VILLAS 630-1/18/577 (West side) 14/12/83 No.37

GV II

House. c1824-8. Probably designed by John Forbes. Stucco over brick with slate roof and iron porch and window box. Double-depth plan with entrance and stairwell to right. EXTERIOR: 3 storeys and basement, 2 first-floor windows. Stucco detailing includes second-floor band; crowning moulded string, frieze and cornice. First floor has 6/6 sashes; second floor has 3/3 sashes; ground floor has 8/8 sash; basement has 6/6 sash; all in plain reveals and with sills. Entrance to right a 6-fielded-panel door in fluted jambs. Rear: 9/6 staircase sash. INTERIOR: retains substantial original features including 2 marble fireplaces (to ground and first floors) with roundels to corners; original joinery including panelled shutters and 6-panel doors; dogleg staircase with stick balusters. SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: porch has heart-and-scroll motif to left side and round arch with scroll frieze. Ground-floor window box has flower and scroll motif. HISTORICAL NOTE: originally known as Montpellier Retreat, most of the houses were probably designed by Forbes, who became architect and surveyor to the Pittville Estate c1835-6. (Blake S: 'The Unfortunate Mr Forbes': Cheltenham Local History Society Journal: 1989-: 7-27).

Listing NGR: SO9464921593