434-437, STRAND WC2 (See details for further address information)

CITY OF WESTMINSTER STRAND WC2 TQ 3080 NW Nos 430, 434 to 437 72/130 (consec), 440 and 449. (Including Nos 1 and 3 2.7.69 to 18 consec Adelaide Street and 5 and 7 William IV Street) GV II* Triangular island block of shops and offices 1830-32 as part of the West Strand Improvements planned by Nash and executed by William Herbert, the centre of the block rebuilt for Coutts Bank by Frederick Gibberd & Partners in 1970s with new set back entrance replacing Strand centrepiece,and restored facades to rest of block. Stucco, slate roofs. Graeco-Roman details with feature of diagonally placed circular corner pavilions, the famous "pepper pots". 3 storeys and attic storey. The surviving ranges flanking the removed Strand centrepiece are each 12 windows wide. 1970s ground floor shops between pilasters, carrying entablature. Upper floors have architraved glazing bar sashes, those on 1st floor full length and with cornices. Main entablature over 2nd floor and attic cornice crowned by blocking course. The terminal corner feature at the junction of Strand and William IV Street takes the form of a circular 5- window pavilion with flanking single window returns similar in detail to Strand ranges but with the 1st and 2nd floor windows articulated by giant pilasters, the main entablature enriched with dentil cornice and surmounted on the pavilion by balustrated parapet encircling the 2 storey pilastered attic finished off with a shallow dome crowned by acanthus-ornamented drum finial. The terminal feature to Adelaide Street junction is similar but with a pair of circular pavilions linked by a single window bay. The William IV Street and Adelaide Street ranges are of the same design but retain their centrepieces,that to William IV Street 8 windows wide and the Adelaide Street one (rebuilt) of 3 windows, articulated by paired giant pilasters to 1st and 2nd floors, dentil cornice to entablature, pilastered attic with cornice and blocking course. Same circular corner pavilion treatment to junction of Adelaide and William IV Streets. Continuous 1st floor iron balustrade to the 3 fronts. Interiors gutted and rebuilt. With Haymarket Theatre and Suffolk Street and Place this block is the only remaining example of Nash's Regent Street manner. (No 440, the 1970s main entrance to Coutts Bank, is not of special interest.) Survey of London; vol XX

Listing NGR: TQ3018880575