15, St James'S Square Sw1

TQ 2980 SW CITY OF WESTMINSTER ST. JAMES'S SQUARE SWl 81/100 24.2.58 No 15 GV I Terraced town house. 1764-66 by James Stuart for Thomas Anson with alterations by Samuel Wyatt in 1791-94. Known as Lichfield House. Portland stone faced, slate roof. A seminal, exquisitely proportioned work of the Greek Revival. 3 storeys and basement. 3 windows wide. Smoothly rusticated ground floor, the openings set in arcade with doorway to right approached by steps, panelled door flanked by recessed Tuscan columns, entablature doorhead and radial glazed fanlight; the glazing bar sash windows with rounded heads set in simply moulded surrounds. The piano nobile has lengthened glazing bar sashes in simple architraves with pediments over and the 2nd floor has eared architraves. These upper floors are articulated by a single giant order of pedestalled fluted Ionic columns, based on Stuart's own study of the Erechtheum, supporting the entablature with pediment overall. The stone balcony across 1st floor has a copper geometric pattern balustrade, an alteration by Samuel Wyatt. Wave moulded sill band to 2nd floor. To the rear 2 storey flattened bows added by Wyatt and rear wing of 3 storeys with rusticated brick ground floor, stone dressings and a tripartite Venetian composition to 1st floor group of windows, by Stuart and alterations by Wyatt. The interior was considerably remodelled by Wyatt 1791-94 and Stuart's main staircase has gone but its upper gallery and fine glazed dome with eagle pendentives and "Wedgwood" medallions survive. Very good 1st floor Stuart and Wyatt decoration with plasterwork by Joseph Rose and painting by Biagio Rebecca etc. Survey of London; vol XXIX James Stuart; David Watkin

Listing NGR: TQ2938480336