Castle Place Nos 165 And 167, And Railings

Castle Place Nos 165 and 167, along with the railings, is a house row that now includes a shop on the left. It was built in 1810 by architect Amon Wilds. The central block is stuccoed, flanked by grey brick wings that have red brick dressings on the stuccoed ground floor. The ground floor features rusticated quoins on the right and a rusticated section in the center between panelled pilasters. Tall fluted pilasters with Ammonite Ionic capitals frame the central area. The wings have a panelled eaves soffit, while the central section has similar eaves with paired brackets. The balustraded roof of the central block has corner piers and three rows of inset balusters above the window bays, with shell ornamentation on the ends of the balustrade. The slate roof is visible only on the wings and has large stacks at the rear. The building has three storeys and a 1 - 3 - 1 window front, featuring glazing bar sashes, except for a margin-light sash on the first floor to the left and tripartite sashes on both upper floors to the right. There is a very plain balcony with small garlands on the handrail, located only on the first floor of the central block. The central flat-headed porch has a cornice hood supported by Ionic columns. To the left, there is a wide 20th-century shop front with a fascia board above and a recessed door to the right. The round-arched entrance features an arched light over a panelled door with a rusticated arch. Plain railings flank the door to No 167. The central house was built for Dr. Gideon Mantell, a geologist known for discovering the Iguanodon, which makes the Ammonite Ionic capitals a reference to both the architect and the patron.