India House

TQ 3080 NE CITY OF WESTMINSTER ALDWYCH, WC2 73/8 (South side)

16.1.81 India House

G.V. II

High Commission. 1928-30 by Sir Herbert Baker and A.T. Scott. Portland ashlar above grey granite 2 storey podium (on steel frame); red pantile roof. Monumental, shallowly modelled elevations with relatively small scale sculptural and decorative details of Indian derivation. 7 storeys and dormered mansard. 9 windows wide, the front following convex curve of Aldwych. Central entrance of black marble with heavy bracketed cornice supporting 2 free standing "Ashokan" columns with stylised elephant bases and lioness finials, flanking semicircular arched window with Ashokan lion keystone; wooden door with Indian jaali work and jaali's flanking. Ground floor windows arcaded. Windows with moulded segmental arched heads on 1st, 3rd and 5th floors, those on 2nd floor with segmental arched heads and sills, flat arched 4th floor windows. The 3rd floor has 2 symmetrically placed aediculed windows. Band courses above ground 1st and 2nd floors, pierced work balcony in front of 6th floor above coved cornice. Iron balcony to 5th floor. Indian motifs over front including animal head brackets, tondi and frieze above 2nd floor. Royal Arms flank central 5th floor window. Return to Montreal Place of 7 bays with 3 bay balcony and aediculed window above. Principal interior spaces dressed in red "Agra" sandstone; the entrance hall domed, the 1st floor oculus-gallery with pierced work balustrade carried on vaults with murals executed by Indian artists, who likewise frescoed the dome which has a frosted glass lantern stage; bronze chandelier. Indian murals in main reception rooms as well. Baker, who had made a point at New Delhi of using Indian artists for the Secretariats murals, arranged for them to be sent to London and Rome for special fresco training for the India House decorations.

Listing NGR: TQ3067680970