Standing opposite is the landmark Montpelier Crescent, which had a view of the South Downs until Vernon Terrace blocked it.

Three groups of houses in the terrace have been listed at Grade II by English Heritage for their architectural and historical importance.

Brighton (originally known as Brighthelmston)[2] developed as a large fishing and agricultural village on the English Channel coast.

In the mid-18th century, the damaging economic effects of a terminal decline in the fishing industry were reversed by the new fashion for sea-bathing, and the town's new role as a seaside resort began.

[4][5] Helped by royal patronage (particularly from the Prince Regent) and good transport links to London and other important towns,[3] Brighton grew rapidly in the early 19th century, and high-class suburbs were laid out.

[6] By this time, Church Hill—ideally situated close to the sea and the town's main attractions, largely undeveloped and with a pleasant southwesterly aspect—was developing as a high-class residential area called Montpelier.

[9] Just north of Kemp's house was a large nursery and market garden owned by Parsons and Sons, described at the time as "well-known florists on the Western Road".

[15] By 1876, when the area was mapped by the Ordnance Survey, almost all of the formerly agricultural land of Church Hill had been built upon; but some fields remained immediately behind Vernon Terrace.

[21][22] The end house, number 1, has a two-window range and an entrance in Windlesham Avenue (with a three-storey canted bay window next to it.

[21] At numbers 7–16, standard features include straight-headed entrance porches, ground-floor rustication, three windows to each storey, many set in architraves with decorative moulding, and a continuous cornice and parapet.