19, Castle Street

This is a three-bay, symmetrical house, dated 1798 and inscribed "J & M F" on a rainwater head, located on Castle Street, Carlisle. It was later altered extensively in the early and late 19th century (a second rainwater head, "C & A F 1898," likely marks the centenary of the first). The front facade is of calciferous sandstone ashlar set on a red sandstone plinth, with a first-floor sill course and eaves cornice. The remaining walls are of Flemish bond brick under a hipped, graduated slate roof, featuring a shared original brick chimney stack. The building was originally constructed as a pair with the adjacent No. 17.

The house has a double-depth, central-stair plan. The facade is entirely of the early 19th century, contrasting with the original facade of No. 17. The central entrance now features C20 double doors under a moulded entablature and recessed semicircular arch. Flanking windows are also C20 and set in semicircular arches matching the doorway, with their sill level lowered in 1989. Red sandstone pilasters are spaced between the ground floor windows, with paired pilasters extending beyond the windows. The first floor features a central sash window with glazing bars set in plain stone reveals, flanked by tripartite windows under elliptical arches. Upper floor windows are in plain stone reveals with stone sills. A return wall facing Long Lane continues some of the ground floor detailing. The rear of the building includes a two-storey bowed bay window and a round-headed staircase window with intersecting glazing bars.

The interior includes a rear principal ground floor room with an elaborate moulded plaster ceiling cornice. An original cantilever stone staircase is present, featuring scrolled wrought-iron balusters and a moulded wooden handrail. Some original panelled doors and panelled internal shutters remain.

Historically, the house belonged to the Forster family. Joseph Forster married Mary Robinson in 1785, and they are likely the "J & M F" commemorated on the rainwater head. The house was advertised for sale following the collapse of their banking business in 1837, described as having a "polished white stone ashlar front." It served as the home of the Carlisle Liberal Club from 1881 to 1885, and later housed the offices of the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme until 1971.