54-57, WIMPOLE STREET W1

Nos 54 to 57 Wimpole Street are terraced townhouses built in the 1770s as part of the Portland Estate development, likely designed by John White. They are constructed of stock brick with channelled stucco ground floors and feature slate roofs. The houses have broad semicircular arched doorways, except for No 57, which has a plain square-headed architraved doorway. The doorways of Nos 54 and 55 are paired and adorned with stucco rustications and Coade guilloche ornamented imposts, linked to each other with head keystones. They have panelled doors, sidelights, and fanlights in a plain Venetian style. The upper floors have recessed sashes under flat gauged arches, and there is a plat band over the ground floor stuccowork. The parapets are topped with copings. Victorian cast iron balconies are present, except for No 55, which features early 19th-century anthemion patterned bowed balconettes. The original area railings for Nos 54 and 57 have urn finials, while the others have plumbed spike finialed cast iron railings. The interiors retain notable features, including wrought iron balustraded stone staircases, plasterwork, and statuary marble chimneypieces dressed with Ionic columns or pilasters.