RAMSGATE ST AUGUSTINE'S ROAD TR 3764 SE (south side) 18/362 Royal Cresent (The Regency Hotel) GV II House row, now hotel. Started 1826 for James Townley. Entrance front (to St Augustine's Road) highly irregular, of many dates largely stock brick, being actually the rear of the Crescent, the main facade of which faces the sea, southwards. Along St Augustine's Road is a wall, about 8 feet high, originally the rear wall of the various house plots. In this wall are several door openings, mostly blocked, round headed, of which 4 have heavily rusticated surrounds; C20 canopy to hotel entrance. South front: rendered with slate roof. Four storeys and basement, the central section and end pavillions taller, and with attics. The treatment of the facade shows slight variations, reflecting the piecemeal construction of what were originally 20 separate houses. Pilaster strips to ground and first floors, supporting a plinth, with giant pilasters over to 2nd and 3rd floors, and with balustraded parapet. Left hand pavillion and centrepiece with attic storey of 6 and 7 windows respectively, right hand pavillion with balustrade and 2 flat roofed dormers. Large scrolled gable to right return. Double hipped and returned roofs to left hand pavillion. Stacks ranged left to right. The original house units in the pavillions and centre piece of 3 bays, the ranges in between irregularly alternate 2 and 3 bays; a total frontage of 49 bays. Sashes, some with vertical glazing bars intact, to 2nd and 3rd floors, French windows throughout on first floor, with continuous verandah, returned to side elevations, with simple rails and heart shaped brackets. French windows also to ground floor, alternately with balconies and simple swept rails to flights of moulded marble steps, some replaced. Central doorway blocked. Sashes and irregularly occurring doors to basement. Part of James Townley's large-scale plans to redevelop the barracks area west of Ramsgate, the crescent was planned to be twice its final length. (See Busson, Book of Ramsgate, 109). Listing NGR: TR3779064399