33 and 34 Surrey Street

These are two late 17th-century terraced houses, numbered 33 and 34 Surrey Street. They are constructed of stock brick in a Flemish bond pattern, with No. 34 being painted, and have slate roofs. The buildings are three storeys high with a basement, and feature dormered mansard roofs concealed behind a parapet, with a central chimney stack.

The plan is two rooms deep with closet wings, and the upper floors have been altered with the addition of transverse connecting corridors. The basements contain transverse brick vaults, which were built around 1664-1700. These vaults once connected to the Roman Bath at No. 5 Strand Lane, and a blocked doorway providing access to that bath still exists. A copper is located in the north-east corner of one vault. A late 19th-century rear extension to No. 33, which extends over the southern part of the vaults, is not included in the listing.

The front elevations are three bays wide, with stepped entrances on the left-hand side. The doorcases are distinguished by pilasters and consoles supporting entablatures with dentil cornices and fluted friezes; No. 34 features a round arch above its entrance. The recessed panelled reveals contain doors, with No. 33 having a rectangular fanlight and No. 34 a semi-circular fanlight. Recessed sash windows with flat gauged-brick arches are present on all upper floors. The upper-floor sashes of No. 34 retain their original glazing bars. A brick platband runs along the first floor, and the parapet is topped with stone copings. The properties are fronted by cast-iron area railings with flaming urn finials.

The interiors of the houses are now linked with buildings on either side, creating a continuous frontage for King's College. No. 33 retains an open-well staircase with open strings, a ramped handrail, and turned balusters, which continues into the basement where stick balusters and a turned newel post are present, though the staircase is capped at attic level. The staircase in No. 34 has been replaced. The hall of No. 34 has a pilastered arch and a bracketed cornice, while No. 33 has plainer mouldings and retains wooden panelling beneath the staircase. Remnants of cornices are found in rooms throughout both properties.

It is noted that the subterranean vaults which form part of this listed building are not mapped.