28-32, WELBECK STREET W1

The building comprises a row of terraced townhouses at numbers 28 to 32 Welbeck Street, London, built around 1770 to 1780 as part of the Portland Estate development. They were likely designed by John White.

The houses are constructed of stock brick with a channelled or rusticated stucco finish to the ground floors, and have slate roofs. They are four storeys high with a basement, and each house has a three-window front. Doorways are located to the right at numbers 31 and 32, to the left at number 28, and adjacent to one another at numbers 29 and 30. The doorways from numbers 29 to 31 have semicircular arched surrounds, while those at numbers 28 and 32 are square-headed. Number 28 features a doorcase with a Pompeian fluted Doric column, an enriched frieze and a mutule cornice. The panelled doors are set within fluted or moulded jambs and doorheads, and are accompanied by side lights, with a delicate oval glazing pattern at number 30, all topped by patterned fanlights. Recessed sash windows are present throughout; those on the ground floor of number 28 have vermiculated rustications, and the first-floor windows have segmental-headed surrounds with stucco architraves and keystones. The remaining windows on the upper floors are under flat gauged arches. A plat band runs over the ground floor; a sill band is present on the second floor of numbers 28 to 30, and a sill course on the third floor to number 30. The parapets have copings. Cast iron balconies of geometric and enriched patterns, dating from the early to mid 19th century, are positioned on the first floor, with bombé designs to numbers 28 and 31. Area railings are present, with spiked or urn finials.

Interior features include plasterwork friezes, some ceilings, and geometrical staircases with wrought iron balustrades. Number 32 served as the Russian Embassy in the mid 19th century, and in 1872 a Russian Orthodox chapel was added to the rear. This chapel is domed, with Russo-Byzantine ornament and columns arranged on a Greek cross plan.