10, Buckingham Street Wc2

TQ 3080 NW and SW CITY OF WESTMINSTER BUCKINGHAM STREET, WC2 72/155; 83/5 24.2.58 No. 10

G.V. II*

Terraced town house. c.1675-76 with late C.18/early C.19 alterations, part of Barbon's development of the York House estate. Stucco faced brick except for later brick attic storey, concealed roof. 4 storeys and basement. 3 windows wide. Doorway to right with panelled door recessed in doorcase of rusticated Doric pilasters supporting triglyph entablature, the cornice-hood reduced by the addition of the bay window to upper floors. Flush framed plate glass sashes to ground floor with key blocks to arches. Full width canted bay window to 1st and 2nd floors with architraved glazing bar sashes and crowning cornice; attic storey has recessed sashes under flat gauged arches. Parapet with coping. Wrought iron area railings with pommelled vase finials. Interior, despite some alteration, retains good original features: the staircase separates the front and back rooms with a rear closet wing; the passage hall has bolection panelling and moulded cornice but originally the hall and front room were probably one space open to the staircase as a fluted column, rising just before the quarter landing of the 1st flight, is now imbedded in the panelled wall screening the staircase from the front room; the staircase has a narrow open well and is of interesting design with foliate carved cut strings and 3 twisted balusters per tread, ramped carved handrail and the newels formed by clusters of 4 similar balusters; heavy turned balusters to basement flight of stairs; panelled main rooms to upper floors; 1st floor rooms have eared, egg and dart architraved, early C.18 chimney pieces with marble slips, good fluted cast iron late C.18 basket grate to the one in rear room; etc. David Hume and Jean Jacques Rousseau lodged here in 1766.

Survey of London; Vol. XVIII. Georgian London; John Summerson.

Listing NGR: TQ3031380497