8, 9 and 10 Kensington Square, Abbot’s Court and 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 Thackeray Street

Residential mansion block with shops at ground floor level, built between 1901 and 1902 by builders Martin, Wells and Company for John Barker. The architect is unknown.

The building is constructed of red brick with granite pilasters to the ground floor and terracotta dressings to the upper floors. It forms a five-storey structure accommodating shops at ground level and apartments on the upper floors and attics.

The principal elevations front onto Kensington Square and Thackeray Street. The west façade facing the square is six bays wide. Over the three central bays sits a Dutch gable flanked by turrets, with a lower three-storey bay projecting at the north. The ground floor features, from left to right, a moulded round-headed terracotta archway containing an iron gate followed by three shop fronts, each with a large display window and glazed doorway. These shops and entrance bay are separated by moulded granite pilasters. The first and second floors are largely matching, with bay windows projecting from alternate bays, cill courses below and cornice bands above the windows, and moulded pilasters flanking the central bay. Bands of terracotta run between every five courses of brick, continuing onto the Thackeray Street elevation. Windows are square-headed one-over-one sashes. On either side of the central bay to the second floor are French doors opening onto balconies with Art Nouveau style ironwork railings. The third floor has a balcony running across the three bays between the turrets. The fourth floor features a Dutch gable with scroll decoration and copper cupolas surmounting the octagonal turrets.

The Thackeray Street elevation, extending 10 bays and following the curved alignment of the street, receives similar treatment. The ground floor contains, from left to right, two shop display windows; the main entrance doors to Abbot's Court with half-glazed panelled doors, side lights and transom lights set within timber surrounds carved with pilasters; and five further shops with glazed doorways and display windows. All bays are separated by granite pilasters. The first and second floors are essentially identical, comprising, from left to right, a turret, a blind bay, a bay window, a three-light bow window, a bay window, another three-light bow window, two bay windows, a blind bay and a turret. Each bay is separated by a brick and terracotta pilaster. Windows are square-headed one-over-one sashes except the bow windows, which have fixed and top-hung lights. The third floor is similar but features plain sash windows in place of bay windows. The fifth floor contains, from left to right, a copper-covered cupola to the octagonal turret, a Dutch gable containing two sashes, three dormer windows separated by tall chimney stacks, two Dutch gables containing sashes and a copper-covered cupola surmounting the east octagonal turret. The east elevation is blank without openings. The rear elevation is built of stock brick with an irregular composition of sash windows and dormers.

The ground floor comprises eight shops with basements. Number 8 Kensington Square contains a fireplace with cast-iron grate and moulded wooden surround, and a wooden staircase with timber handrail, turned balusters and newel posts descending to the basement. Number 9 Kensington Square has been refurbished as a restaurant. Number 10 Kensington Square has a basement accessed by a straight flight of stairs, with a plain brick fireplace and segmental brick-arched recesses. Number 26 Thackeray Street has a decorative cast-iron spiral staircase leading to the basement. Number 24 Thackeray Street retains some historic joinery and is also served by a decorative cast-iron spiral staircase to the basement. Number 22 Thackeray Street is currently in use as a café and is accessed by a wooden staircase with turned newel posts, stick balusters and timber handrail. Number 20 Thackeray Street is a hairdressing salon. Number 18 Thackeray Street contains two stone fireplaces and some historic joinery to the ground floor, with a decorative cast-iron spiral staircase serving the basement.

The first, second, third and fourth floors form a set of apartments called Abbot's Court. The main entrance leads to a hallway with a tiled floor, dado rail, fielded panels, a fireplace with cast-iron firebox and moulded wooden surround, dentil cornice and brass lantern. Original timber glazed doors lead through to the main staircase, which has a timber handrail surrounding a central lift shaft. The staircase provides access to eight flats and a porter's room. The wooden doors to the main flats appear to be original matching designs with lower fielded panels, brass letter boxes and upper glazed panels.