Argyll House

Argyll House, located at No. 12 Gentle Street, is a building first rated in 1770, likely constructed between 1768 and 1769 by the Thynne family. It was later home to the Dowager Duchess of Argyll, who served as Mistress of the Robes to the Queen and passed away in 1855. The structure features coursed rubble with freestone elements, a chamfered plinth, rusticated quoins, a cornice, and a parapet. It is two storeys tall with an attic and basement. The façade includes two windows with architrave heads, glazing bar sashes, and outer Venetian windows, along with a keyed centre light and a single round-headed light in the centre of the first floor. The central entrance has a panelled door with cross lower panels, cusp-headed centre panels, an architrave surround, and a pediment on brackets, accessed by three steps. The roof is a mansard style covered with pantiles and features one dormer. The northern return has a glazing bar sash attic window with a flat moulded surround.

Inside, the ceiling cornices may be original, and there is an original Chinese Chippendale staircase, which is an excellent example of local craftsmanship. A similar pattern is used for a smaller staircase leading to the attic, made from cheaper timber and featuring straight stringers and smaller scale handrails, which also appears to be original.