Villa Middleton Road

At the corner of Middleton-road, Mr. George Truefitt, the architect, has built himself a residence. It is worthy of its accomplished owner, and combines great economy with masterly skill. It has a most attractive appearance from the Camden-road, and the effect is produced by a few bands of red brick, a trifling use of carved stone, the steep, well-arranged roof, and central block of chimneys. The little angle window, executed in stone, on the first floor is novel, and gives a cheerful aspect from the principal room in the house. On a close examination of the house, we recognise the architect's merit in the design of ironwork. Elegantly wrought brackets support the balcony and the hood over first floor win- dow. It has a frontage of 25 feet by 27 feet in depth. On the ground floor there is a spacious hall, dining-room, kitchen, scullery, pantry, coal-house, wine cellars, and water closets. On the first floor there is a drawing-room extending the whole width of the house, and a large bedroom at the back; there are three other bed-rooms on the second floor. There are several peculiarities in the internal design. Maw's tiles are laid down instead of hearthstones, and with the same material the architect has skirted the rooms, instead of using wood or cement. They have a very cheerful effect. The whole of the interior woodwork is unpainted, and varnished to show the natural grain of the wood. Though hardly coming within the province of the architect, we cannot avoid noticing the good effect produced by painting the buff-colored Venetian window blinds with red stripes, to harmonise with the similar features in the brick front. The house has no basement and is detached. [ Building News 9 December 1859 page 1009]