California House

California House is a Grade II listed office building located on Essex Street in the City of Westminster. It was constructed in 1892 by the architectural partnership of Robert Lempriere Hesketh and Walter Stokes and originally consisted of two houses of unequal size. The building is made of buff terracotta and features extensive decorative elements inspired by Flemish Renaissance design.

The structure has three storeys, a basement, and an attic, with a total of 14 closely set windows. There are two doorways, positioned towards the left and center-right, featuring panelled and glazed doors with rectangular fanlights set in pilaster jambs beneath entablature-lintels. The first-floor windows are recessed plate glass sashes within enriched surrounds, flanked by pilasters. The southernmost bay and two others project slightly, each flanked on every floor by engaged enriched columns that support pediments of varying designs.

The building is adorned with elaborate arabesque friezes above the ground and first floors, as well as a modillion eaves cornice. At the corner of Devereux Court, there are clustered columns and quoin pilasters on each floor. Additionally, cast iron ornamental area railings enhance the building's exterior.