27-34 Ennismore Gardens

Terrace of nine townhouses constructed between 1868 and 1872 by the builder-speculators Peter and Alexander Thorn, with possible design influence from John Elger, as part of an Italianate square development.

The terrace is built in Portland stone and London stock brick with mahogany front doors set with tiled or marble entrance stairs, cast-iron railings and a slate tile roof. All nine equally-sized townhouse mansions are arranged with paired frontal porch entrances to Ennismore Gardens. Extensions of varying sizes and heights project to the rear. All houses within the terrace have been subdivided into flats, with associated alterations made to original plan-forms to facilitate these subdivisions.

The south elevation to Ennismore Gardens rises five storeys above ground, not including later-added mansards, and follows an Italianate palazzo design. Each house has three evenly spaced window bays on the principal elevation. The central trio of houses step forward slightly, emphasising the symmetrical composition. The ground floor features channelled masonry, canted bay windows and Corinthian porches grouped in pairs, each porch consisting of a trio of columns. The porch serving Nos 31-32 has had its central column removed to unify the two houses. At first-floor level, tall pedimented French windows open onto balconies with fine cast-iron railings. The second floor has arch-headed windows with bracketed ledges and cast-iron railings. The third floor features square-headed windows with a simple entablature, and the fourth floor has unadorned segmental-headed windows beneath a heavy modillion cornice. With the exception of the first-floor French windows, plate glass sashes feature throughout. Decorative cast-iron railings with ornate sectional finials and gates front onto Ennismore Gardens, set between the projecting porches.

Mansards have been added to each house, stepping back and partially obscured behind the parapet. The side elevations to the west and east are in London stock brick with pedimented window surrounds to the first and second floors, square-headed and corniced surrounds to the third floor and simple segmental surrounds to the fourth floor. Three chimney stacks of stock brick with stone capping rise from the end bays, with those on the east side infilled by mansard extensions. Blind windows occupy the northernmost bay of both terrace ends.

The rear elevation, largely obscured by Ennismore Garden Mews, is in London stock brick with a range of later extensions of varying sizes and dates, several with fire escape stairs.

All nine former townhouses have been internally subdivided, several extensively, with related alterations made to internal plan-forms and fabric. The full extent of survival of original fittings and plan-forms in individual properties is not known. Where original fittings, decorative schemes or plan-forms survive, these contribute to the special interest of the buildings.