87 And 88, St James'S Street Sw1

TQ 2980 SW CITY OF WESTMINSTER ST. JAMES'S STREET SW1 81/117 (West side) Nos 87 and 88 5.2.70 GV II* Corner office block. 1903-04 by R. Norman Shaw and Ernest Newton for the Alliance Assurance Company. Portland stone, slate roof. Intuitive mannerist classicism of Shaw's last phase. 4 storeys and dormer. The main front closes Pall Mall vista with 3 bay ground floor and mezzanine podium changing to 5 bays on 1st and 2nd floors finished off with a 3 bay pedimented attic storey. Podium has boldly banded rustication and voussoirs to 3 large semicircular arched openings framing office and mezzanine windows and containing central doorway with inset rusticated columns. Rusticated quoins to upper floors, the 1st floor windows with segmental pediments on consoles and stone balconettes with bombé "Rococo" ironwork, the 2nd floor windows with keystoned flat arches linked by impost string - both floors with sill courses, consoles to the 2nd floor window sills. Projecting modillion eaves cornice broken in centre by lifted attic with open pediment and heavy voussoirs to central window contrasting with lightness of leaded casement dormers. Return to Cleveland Row has rusticated end pavilions with 5 windows between, those to 1st floor corniced with balconettes similar to those of main front; the rear elevation a simplified version of front. Office interiors probably detailed by Newton. Survey of London, vol XXX R. Norman Shaw; Andrew Saint, 1975.

Listing NGR: TQ2929080106