Inveresk House

TQ 3080 NE CITY OF WESTMINSTER ALDWYCH, WC2 73/31 (North side)

Inveresk House: Nos. 1-5 1.5.86 (odd) (Including No. 346 Strand.)

G.V. II

Office block. 1906-07 by Mewes and Davis as the offices of the Morning Post, attic storeys rebuilt and heightened in the late 1920's. Norwegian granite facing on an early steel frame (see also the Ritz), slate and coppered roof. Very elegant "Louis XV-Louis XVI" design for this island block beginning the concave curve of the Aldwych, unfortunately marred by the alteration of the attic. 4 storeys and 2 tiers of dormers in steep mansard with cupola dome over Strand corner. 12 windows wide to Aldwych quadrant, 1-window curved corners, 11-window Wellington Street front and 9 windows to Exeter Street. Main entrance to bowed Strand corner, central entrances to each of 3 fronts, semicircular arched and recessed for one order with female head keystones, that to No. 346 Strand has large flanking pairs of consoles, with garland swags linking keystone, supporting break in cornice surmounted by balustraded shallow balcony with draped pairs of flanking dies. Similar but single consoles and balconies over entrances centred to each return. The ground floor is channelled with large semicircular arched windows with console keys; the bays adjoining bowed Strand corner have plain blind doorways surmounted by enriched oeil de boeuf. The 1st and 2nd floor windows are vertically grouped and recessed for one order with laurel-leafs framing the heads at 2nd floor level "hung" from be-ribboned keys; architraved 3rd floor windows framed by garlanded coupled consoles supporting main cornice. The bowed Strand corner is subtly elaborated with enriched architraves to grouped 1st and 2nd floor windows with a cornice on console brackets carrying wrought iron balconette to 3rd floor window; suspended from a plat band, between 2nd and 3rd floor levels, one finely carved, be-ribboned, bar relief trophies. The 1st floor windows of main elevations have balustrades in antis with wrought iron French balconettes in antis to those on 2nd floor. The rebuilt attic has 2- storeyed pedimented dormers and coppered dome with oeil de boeuf to Strand corner.

Edwardian Architecture and its origins; Alistair Service (ed.)

Listing NGR: TQ3059880897