Number 42 And Attached Railings

Number 42 is a house and office, built around 1840 for Algernon Sydney Field, a solicitor. It is reputedly designed by William Thomas. The building underwent later additions and alterations. It is constructed of stucco over brick, with a Welsh slate roof.

The building is three storeys high with a basement, featuring three windows on the first floor. The front facade is of painted stucco, embellished with pinkish-brown brick and a concealed roof. Detailing includes panelled Tuscan pilasters extending through the ground and first floors, between the windows, and surmounted by a frieze, architrave and dentil cornice. The second floor features corresponding plain Tuscan pilasters. The central tripartite window on the first floor has 6/6 sashes flanked by 2/2 sashes, set within plain reveals and framed by Doric pillars on acanthus corbels, with a panelled apron and frieze. The outer bays of the first floor have similar 6/6 sashes with plain reveals and Doric angle pillars, as well as friezes and aprons. The central recessed panel on the third floor is between three 6/6 sashes in plain reveals. The ground floor’s central tripartite window mirrors the first floor's design with Doric pillars, a sill, a Greek key frieze, and a cornice. A set of three roll-edged steps leads to an eight-panel door with an overlight, also incorporating Doric pillars to the reveals. The basement has a plank door and a casement window. The building includes a frieze and a cornice, with stacks at the left end.

The openwell staircase extends to the full height of the building and features a tapered rod with central bobbin balusters and a wreathed handrail. The first-floor hallway contains decorative plaster plaques of Day and Night modelled after the works of Bertel Thorvaldsen (originals at Chatsworth). Above, “Mercury bearing Pandora to earth” is a plaster plaque after John Flaxman (originals in the Flaxman Collection, University of London). A frieze depicting figures and cattle, inspired by the Parthenon frieze, is also present. On the second floor, a roundel of the Madonna and Child adorns the front room. Several rooms are decorated with moulded cornices and ceiling roses, and fireplaces and shutters are found on some windows.

The attached area railings have decorative finials with urns on the stanchions.

Number 42 remained in use as offices and a dwelling-place until 1856, when Field moved to Moyola Lodge, 16 Avenue Road.