5 and 5A Upper Harley Street

MATERIALS: stock brick, stuccoed to front and side elevations, with slate roof concealed behind the parapet. Windows are multi-pane timber sashes.

PLAN: the building occupies a rectangular plot bounded by Brunswick Place to the west, Park Square Mews to the east and a connecting alleyway to the south. The three-storey rear part, which represents the first building phase, comprises No. 5A (entered via a side door in the alley) and the former coach-house and stables (now garages) facing Park Square Mews. The slightly later front range, of two storeys over a basement, with a centrally-placed entrance from Brunswick Place, forms No. 5.

EXTERIOR: the main Brunswick Place elevation to No. 5 approximates to that of a symmetrical double-fronted villa, with large tripartite windows (recessed six-over-six pane sashes with deep stone cills) flanking a raised central doorway, which has panelled double-leaf doors, square overlight and moulded surround. The elevation is subtly irregular, with the left-hand (northern) bay somewhat wider and set back a few inches from the main building line - possibly indicating a slightly later addition. A plat band separates the storeys, and the first floor has flat stucco pilaster-strips and a moulded cornice. The south return elevation is also stuccoed, and the entrance to No. 5A has panelled doors and a square overlight; the division between the front and back parts of the building is clearly visible in the different storey heights. The rear elevation to Park Square Mews is of plain stock brick, much patched, and is dominated by the large double doors to the coach-house and stables, with a small cupboard between.

INTERIORS: these have been extensively modernised. The main (apparently) original features in No. 5 are the Greek Revival plasterwork in the entrance hallway (anthemion frieze, moulded cornice, ceiling with bead-and-reel moulding), the spiral stair with its stick balusters and turned newels, and some four-panel doors in moulded timber surrounds. The partition wall to the northern bay is of double thickness, and the ceiling/upper floor level here is slightly higher. No. 5A has a straight dog-leg stair with joinery similar to that in No. 5. There are no known features of interest within the basement or the garages.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: there are spear-headed area railings to Brunswick Place, partly re-set; these return up the stone steps to the front door, which have twin gates flanked by urn finials, while a single gate to the left gives access to service steps that descend to the basement.