75, South Audley Street W1

TQ 2880 SW CITY OF WESTMINSTER SOUTH AUDLEY 79/27 STREET, Wl 14.8.70 No. 75 G.V. II Formerly Bute House. Terraced town mansion. 1736-38 origin. Built as three houses by Edward Shepherd, made one as Bute House 1774-76 by "Capability" Brown and Henry Holland,and alterations, possibly by Robert Mylne, c.1802; refronted 1907 by C.J. Corblet; grand interior refurbishment for Legation in 1927 by Fern and Billerey. Portland stone front, stucco return and rear, slate roof. 1907 "Palladian" elevation but retains late C.18/early C.19 full height bows to rear. 2 storeys and basement and attic storey. 7 windows wide. Entrance in 3rd bay from right with engaged Corinthian columns, entablature and pediment. Architraved windows, with pediments to majority on ground floor and with elaborated architrave with open scrolled pediment above doorway, unequally articulated through ground and 1st floors by giant order of Roman Ionic pilasters rising from rusticated basement to main entablature with modillion cornice. Attic with enriched pilaster strips in line with giant order and balustraded crowning parapet. The bows to rear retain recessed glazing bar sashes. Cast iron C.18 style area railings with urn finials. Finely executed interior in French Louis XVI and English C.18 taste retaining elements of previous decorations, including late C.18 chimney pieces of statuary marble, painted "grotesques" some of which date back to the Bute family's occupation, painted friezes and ceiling panels (roundels in ceiling of north room of 1st floor suite are reset Tiepolo canvases; the main ceiling panel "Allegory of Venus and Time" now in National Gallery - introduced in 1876). Survey of London; Vol XL.

Listing NGR: TQ2839580395