11 And 12, North Audley Street W1

TQ 2880 NW CITY OF WESTMINSTER NORTH AUDLEY STREET, W1 68/15 (east side) 24.2.58 Nos. 11 and 12 G.V. II* At various times one single town house and two separate dwellings. c. 1726-30 by Edward Shepherd, with exceptional interior to No. 12 including gallery to rear, possibly based on designs by Edward Lovett Pearce; alterations c. 1819, 1830,1850 and 1932. Stucco faced elevation to street, slate roof. No. 11 of 3 storeys, basement and dormered mansard and No. 12 with attic storey added 1932 and basement and dormered mansard. 6 windows wide in all plus recessed bay to No. 12. The Grecian stucco facade of c. 1819 by Thomas Lee (the younger) has channelled ground floor with entrances to left of each 3 window "front", that of No. 11 with architrave and cornice on consoles; that of No. 12 more important with panelled door and side lights under fanlight, recessed for one order in semicircular arched opening. Right hand bay of No. 11 slightly advanced with window set in arched panel, similar window to right of No. 12 entrance. Upper floors have recessed glazing bar sashes, in architraves with cornices on 1st floor but with round arched window to left on No. 12. The centre bay of latter and the advanced bay of No. 11 have giant order of pilasters, with similar pilaster flanking left hand bay of No. 12, all rising from 1st floor sill band. Entablature with balustraded parapet. Wrought iron flambe torch finialed area railings. Very fine interior of No. 12 has amonst other features a central domed and top lit octagon room with oval stone staircase compartment to left and to rear the splendid gallery with square central compartment surmounted by coffered dome and flanking groin vaulted smaller compartments, lavish stuccowork including Ionic columns at all the angles and framing the Venetian composition of central windows to garden etc. The 2nd floor "Chinese" bedroom was decorated c. 1932 by White Allom for Samuel Courtauld with overmantel by Rex Whistler and the semicircular marble bathroom to the designs of Marchese Malacrida. Shepherd's elaborate interiors (with Pearce's putative contribution) were carried out for General Ligonier, resident,from c.1730 to his death in 1770. Survey of London; Vol. XL.

Listing NGR: TQ2825680946