Numbers 7 And 8 And Attached Railings

Numbers 7 and 8 are a pair of houses with attached railings, built between 1822 and 1831 and altered in the 20th century. They are constructed from red and brown brick in Flemish bond with rubbed brick details and have a slate roof. Each house has three storeys above a basement and features three windows wide with the entrance located to the right. There are steps leading up to a six-panel door with a fanlight, set in a plain stone surround with a keyed brick arch and imposts for No. 7. The door and fanlight for No. 8 have been altered. The houses have segmental-arched basement windows, with sashes and casements on the upper floors; the frames have been replaced, and there are stone sills and flat brick arches. Large multi-flue stacks are positioned on the ridge between the two properties. The interior has not been inspected. The railings enclose the basement area and flank the steps, featuring bud finials. This pair of houses is part of the first stage of the development of Finsbury Square, which was first advertised in 1822. The first eight houses, now numbered 7 to 14, were depicted on Fowler's map from 1831, and the oval garden was laid out, although the southern terrace was never built.