27 and 28 King Street

This list entry was subjected to a Minor Enhancement on 19 March 2025 to amend details in the description and reformat the text to current standards

TQ 3080 NW 72/28

CITY OF WESTMINSTER KING STREET, WC2 Nos. 27 and 28

15.1.73

G.V. II

Offices. No. 27 of C.18 origin altered early C.19 and refronted by Charles Mayhew 1853-54 and 1856, with No. 28 rebuilt to match No. 27 in 1856-58 by Thomas Little all for the Westminster Fire Office. Stucco faced, slate roof. Still retaining neo classical features overlaid with Italianate details. Four storeys and basement. Five windows wide (the grouping in three and two bays revealing different builds). The ground floor, with mid C.20 display windows and doorways, is screened by a Roman Doric colonnade of five alternately narrow and wide bays, the entablature surmounted by richly scrolled rinceaux cast iron balcony with panelled and ball finialed dies. Channelled first and second floors with architraved recessed casements surmounted by entablatures, the friezes of the first floor ones pulvinated. Square architraved windows to third floor, with consoled sills, separated by panels. The central 2nd floor window of left hand group of three is replaced by large and boldly modelled cartouche of arms with Prince of Wales feathers surmounting wreathed portcullis. Sill bands, that to second floor inscribed "Westminster Fire Offices"; deeply moulded frieze with large pairs of ornamented consoles rising from 3rd floor panels to projecting moulded cornice. Cast iron second floor window guards. Cast iron area railings of geometric pattern. Interior retaining fine late classical 1st floor boardroom redecorated by Professor Sir Albert Richardson. Survey of London; Vol. XXXVI.

There is a pair of wall-mounted Windsor gas lanterns positioned at the north and south entrances to the Lazenby Court passage. The one at the south entrance is an early model, probably pre-1910.

Listing NGR: TQ3018080857