71, South Audley Street W1

TQ 2880 SW CITY OF WESTMINSTER SOUTH AUDLEY 79/13 STREET, Wl 24.2.58 No. 71 G.V. II* End terrace town house. 1736 by Edward Shepherd, the overhanging projection to South Street facade probably not original but added c.1740-50. Painted brick with painted stone as well as probably original stucco dressings, slate roof. Well preserved example of Shepherd's Palladianism and probably intended to read as a "wing" in an unexecuted overall Palladian composition for Nos. 71 to 75 consec. 3 main storeys over basement, attic storey surmounted by pediment gable to front. The latter is of one bay only; return to South Street with slightly advanced pedimented centre and 1st floor built-out, overlapping centre, carried on 4 Tuscan piers and 2 columns in front of doorway. The latter has a rusticated shallow Gibbs surround with projecting alternate voussoirs to arch. South Audley Street front has variants on the Venetian window theme to centre of each floor, that on ground floor with Gibbs rustication to Doric columns, that on 1st floor with Ionic pilasters and a truncated, pedimented version to 2nd floor; attic has eared architrave window with stucco surround swept out to foot. 1st floor sill band and stone modillion-bracket cornice over 2nd floor, pediment gable to attic, all features returned to South Street where the 1st floor projection, 3 windows wide, has shallow centre break with main window flanked by narrow lights; stucco entablature and blocking surmounted by ball finials. Rear elevation has early C.20 through-storey stuccoed canted bay but retains original pediment-gabled attic. Spear head area railings with torch finials and openwork obelisk standards carrying wrought overthrow in front of door. Railings and area extend with garden/patio wall up to No. 28 South Street; on the flank of the latter, providing a backdrop to the view from the house, is a stucco Palladian tripartite composition with pediment gable broken by pedimented centrepiece, with niche, surmounted by truncated obelisk chimney: an original architectural concept to disguise the kitchen flues; later neo classical relief panels to "wings" of this feature and as tondo beneath pediment. Interior of house retains a number of good original features on ground and 1st floors, stone staircase (late C.18 iron balustrade) in fully panelled hall, 3 good plasterwork ceilings typical of Shepherd, dining room with sunk plaster panels to walls, five pedimented overmantels to chimney pieces, ground floor front room with fine composition of pedimented bookcases flanking chimney piece etc. Survey of London; Vol. XL.

Listing NGR: TQ2838380438