Numbers 1-9 Including Railings To North And East

Numbers 1 to 9, including the iron railings to the north and east, form one of a pair of grand, symmetrical townhouses built as a monumental termination to John Nash's planned route to Waterloo Place, replacing Carlton House. They were constructed between 1827 and 1829 by John Nash, with contributions from Sir James Pennethorne. The buildings are stucco-faced with slate roofs.

The design is broadly in a Graeco-Roman style, with four storeys and a basement to the north, and three storeys with three-storey attic pavilions at each end to the south, all raised on a terrace overlooking the park. The north front is relatively simple, with projecting end pavilions and individual ionic or Doric columned portico-porches. It has recessed glazing bar sashes, a cornice, and blocking course that returns to face the steps. Cast iron spearhead area railings are present.

Nash’s primary contribution was to the Park front, where the window arrangement follows a rhythm of 5:8:5:8:5, with the end pavilions slightly projecting. Recessed architraved glazing bar sashes are topped with cornices, articulated by a giant Corinthian order extending through the ground and first floors. The order is engaged to the end pavilions and detached to the central range, which features a pediment with acanthus scrollwork in the tympanum over the central five bays of the attic. The double-height attics of the end pavilions are articulated by panelled pilaster piers in antis. A distinctive feature is the deeply cantilevered balustraded balconies to the first-floor windows, integrated into the giant order. A deep balustraded terrace is supported by engaged cast iron Doric columns with segmental arched windows between. The east flank has a continuous balustraded first-floor balcony.

Numbers 1, 2 and 3, built by Decimus Burton, retain some original Grecian interior details. The interior of Number 6 was heavily remodelled in a Quattrocento style by Sir Ernest George between 1889 and 1890. Numbers 7 to 9, previously the German Embassy, were redecorated in 1937 under the direction of Albert Speer, although Number 7 retains its Rococo staircase and ground floor wall paintings by G. F. Watts, dating from 1856 to 1858. The former Prime Minister, W. E. Gladstone, resided at Numbers 4, 11, and 13 at various times.