The Little House Club

This townhouse dates from circa 1741 and was part of the original plan for Shepherd Market, developed by Edward Shepherd, who also acted as the builder. The exterior was faced with stock brick and brick and stone dressings in the 1860s, following the demolition of an original market tavern and subsequent rebuilding of several houses. The roof is slate-covered.

The building is four storeys high. It has a tripartite window facing onto Shepherd Market, repeated on the upper floors. A two-window range is present on the return. A shop occupies the ground floor, featuring a bracketed fascia of the original design with a rebuilt shopfront in a matching style. The windows have flat- and segmental-arched stone surrounds, banded details, storey bands, and a plain parapet. Stacks are visible along the right party wall and in the right rear corner.

The entrance, located on the return, leads to a full-height panelled stair bay with a balustrade of original design. Rooms are situated on either side of the stair, each panelled from ground to second floors. Notable features include two Gibbsian fireplaces in the rear ground floor and first floor rooms, dating to the 18th century. A Regency period fireplace is in the front room on the first floor, likely installed in the early 20th century. Carved cabinet panels in the style of 17th century Artisan Mannerism are found around the window in the rear ground floor room; these were likely reused from a larger piece of furniture and installed in the early 20th century.

The building is believed to have been the first one constructed in the Market development and reputedly was the home of Edward Shepherd. Its survival as a complete Georgian townhouse within a Victorian-era facade demonstrates the poor quality of the original speculative construction, which led to the rebuilding of many properties in Shepherd Market during the 1860s.