Numbers 18 And 19 And Attached Railings To Front And Brick Walls To Rear

Pair of terraced houses at Numbers 18 and 19 Church Row, dating from approximately 1717–20, refaced in the late 19th century in Georgian style. The buildings are constructed in multi-coloured stock brick with red brick dressings and a band at first floor level. The roofs are tiled mansards with dormers.

EXTERIOR

Both houses are three storeys with attics and basements. The front elevations feature late 19th-century architraved doorcases with plain bracketed hoods, radial patterned fanlights and panelled doors. The windows are slightly recessed sashes with gauged red brick segmental arches and exposed boxing; these are single sashes on metal hinges. A brick and stone cornice runs to the parapet. Each house has a lead lion mask rainwater head and pipe.

The rear elevations differ between the two properties. Number 18 is three windows wide and has a first-floor canted bay supported on stilts, with a small glazed conservatory at ground floor level. Number 19 is also three windows wide, with a closet projecting from the rear staircase and a projecting bay at ground floor. Both rear elevations feature flush sash windows under canted gauged brick heads.

INTERIORS

The interiors survive in remarkably complete condition.

Number 18: The hallway is fully panelled with ovolo mouldings, cornice and dado, with a square arch leading to the staircase hall. A closed string staircase with turned balusters rises from ground to attic floor; a stick baluster staircase leads to the basement. Each principal floor contains two main rooms with the staircase compartment set to the rear.

The ground floor front room is fully panelled with ovolo mouldings, moulded dado and box cornices, and contains a simple 18th-century fireplace with a 19th-century grate lined in faience tiles. The ground floor back room has a corner fireplace and unmoulded panelling with cornice and dado that continues into the canted bay. The first floor front room is fully panelled with ovolo mouldings, shutters, dado and box cornices. The first floor rear room retains full panelling with cornice and dado and a corner fireplace, though a 20th-century partition has been inserted. The upper parts of the stairway have panelling to dado level only. The second floor front room features half-height panelling, a plank door, an early 18th-century arched fireplace, cupboard and shutters. The second floor rear room has an 18th-century arched fireplace, half-height panelling with cornice and shutters.

The third (attic) floor front rooms were remodelled in the 1920s by Leslie Moore, who moved into the house in 1923. These rooms feature a tiny fireplace, cupboard and Yorkshire sliding sashes. The third floor rear room has a plank door and cupboards by Moore. The basement contains a kitchen and scullery with a large open fireplace, bread cupboard, corner cupboard and an early 19th-century glass cupboard (all fitted), along with a plank door. The rear basement room has an 18th-century corner fireplace and gypsum floor.

Number 19: The hallway is fully panelled with ovolo moulding and opens into the staircase hall through a flat pilaster arch. A closed string staircase with turned balusters rises from basement to attic, featuring full height panelling to the second floor with corresponding dado panels; dado panels alone continue to the upper floors. All principal floors have two rooms per floor, with the staircase compartment set at the rear.

The ground floor front room is fully panelled with ovolo mouldings, dado and box cornice, with an alcove featuring curved shelving and cupboard, and an early 19th-century grate. The ground floor rear room has a corner fireplace with some small panels over dadoes and a cornice, possibly early 19th-century in date to correspond with the canted bay. The first floor front room features full-height ovolo moulded panelling with shutters, dadoes and box cornice, and an early 19th-century fireplace with grate. The first floor rear room is also fully panelled with shutters, corner fireplace and 19th-century tiled grate. The second floor front room contains an early 18th-century fireplace with faience tiles and later grate; the second floor rear room has a corner fireplace. The third floor has Edwardian grates and casement windows behind the parapet; the rear room has a plank door.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES

Attached cast-iron railings with urn and torch flambé finials front the properties.

HISTORICAL NOTE

Number 18 was the home of Thomas Park (1759–1838), described as a "poetical antiquary" (a plaque by the Hampstead Antiquarian and Historical Society commemorates this). The houses of Church Row form a most important early 18th-century group.