Description: The first mention found of a house on this site was in 1684, after this the property was known as Lord Howe's house, a magnificent mansion, built about 1755. It was erected as the town house of the family of Howe of Langar, whose most distinguished member was Admiral Lord Howe (who celebrated a victory over the French off Brest in 1794). William Stanford completely remodelled or more probably rebuilt 19 Castle Gate around 1775. Its elaborate portal, decorated with the classic ox-skull and swags of flowers is a decorative feature taken from the classical period of Ancient Greece and Rome, when the garlands decorated the sacrifices which were hung up as trophies upon altars, and here revived during the neo-classical movement of the Georgian Period. In 1789 Mr. Stanford, who was a great Royalist, celebrated King George III's recovery from his mental illness by having the house gaily illuminated, and distributed half-a-hogshead of beer to the neighbouring people with which to drink the King's health.