18 And 19, Kensington Palace Gardens W8

Nos. 18 and 19 Kensington Palace Gardens are a pair of large houses built between 1845 and 1847, likely designed by R R Banks under the office of Sir Charles Barry. The houses are constructed of stone, with a rear elevation made of brick and slate roofs. They feature two storeys above a basement, with a five-bay central block flanked by belvedere towers that rise to three storeys. The ground-floor windows have Doric surrounds, while the first-floor windows are adorned with segmental pediments and flanking pilasters. The belvederes have rusticated quoins and garland friezes below the cornice. A crowning modillion cornice supports a balustraded parapet with ball finials, and the belvederes have square corner terminals. The interiors have not been inspected. Notable alterations include an entrance porch, tower, conservatory, and a two-storey extension containing a picture gallery and billiard room at the rear of No. 18, completed in 1870 by F and H Francis for Baron Julius de Reuter. Additionally, a single-storey study was added to the rear of No. 19 in 1857 by Barry and Banks, and a new porch and extension with extensive internal decoration were completed in 1884 by F W Porter.