Sir Christopher Wren Hotel

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 30 March 2023 to amend the name and address, and to reformat the text to current standards

SU 9677 SE 1/70

THAMES STREET (West Side) Sir Christopher Wren Hotel

(Formerly listed as The Old House Hotel)

4.1.50.

GV II*

Painted inscription dates building as being 1676 and records that Sir C Wren apparently lived here. The front appears to be early C18 with later C18 glazing bar sash windows. The main block is set back from street and is of brick on stuccoed plinth with centre break of three windows and bracketed cornice and pediment; the flanking bays, each of two windows have stone coping on offset shallow brick parapet. Hipped slate roof. Pediment over centre has lunette attic window. Glazed door in wood Tuscan porch of two engaged columns, entablature with triglyph frieze, enriched cornice and pediment - moulded stone bases to columns. Three steps up. Paved forecourt and later C18 wrought iron rails with urn finialed standards to street.

Late C18 wing to left hand: three storeys and attic; first floor stone sill course, stone cornice and blocking course. Mansard slate roof with two dormers. Three windows to upper floors, two on ground floor, glazing bar sashes, flat gauged arches. Door of six flush panels to right hand in doorcase of panelled pilasters with carved caps, entablature with dentil cornice and radiating and wreathed fanlight. The right hand return of this wing has open loggia approach to secondary entrance to main block. This wing appears to have been a separate house.

The right hand wing is a circa 1800-20 extension, three storey part, next to main block, taller and of painted brick - parapet with coping; two windows, glazing bar sashes. Adjoining lower three storey part, has three windows, glazing bars intact to second floor only. The farthest section of the wing is of one storey and basement and has six panel door flanked by engaged Doric columns in antis; window to right flanked by pilasters with cornice over.

Interior of main block has open string staircase, pedimented doorways to hall - rooms with dado or full height panelling.

Nos 49 to 51(consec) form a group with Sir Christopher Wrens House

Listing NGR: SU9674077189