Clarendon Buildings and Attached Railings

Clarendon Buildings is a block of flatted philanthropic housing dating from 1872. Designed by Sydney Waterlow for the Improved Industrial Dwellings Company, and constructed with the advice of the builder, Matthew Allen, it represents an influential example of working-class housing development. The building is constructed of red brick in Flemish bond, with cement rendering and cast cement detailing, and has a tile mansard roof with roof dormers. It stands five storeys high over a basement, and has end blocks of three windows each, alongside three bays of balconies supported on plain brick piers. Steps provide access to a ground-floor balcony, with an open stairwell at the rear articulated into bays by simple pilasters and entablature. Openwork spandrels to balconies are enclosed by railings of an authentic design, as are the railings to the basement area. A canted bay with triple windows extends from the basement to the first floors in the centre range of the end blocks; tripartite windows are above, while remaining windows to the end blocks have cement rendered aedicule to ground and first floors and segmental brick arches to the upper floors. Dormers feature boldly moulded aedicules, and remaining openings are flat arched. A plaque reading ‘Clarendon Flats, 1-38’ is located to the right of the entrance stair. The return elevation is red brick, while the rear elevation is brown brick and features cast window lintels. A rear projection contains bedrooms, sculleries and WCs. The simplified cast detailing and architectural expression reflect the economical constraints of commercial, philanthropic developments. The open stair-hall and balcony arrangement was calculated to create a more healthful communal environment, avoiding the dark and dangerous hallways found in speculative tenements. The use of red brick on the main elevation marks a departure from earlier blocks constructed from cheaper brown brick, and was a concession to the Duke of Westminster, who provided land on his Mayfair estate for the building's construction.