No 1 (Willoughby) and 2-12 Suffolk Square and attached area railings to Nos. 2-12

A terrace of 12 houses with attached area railings, now converted to a hotel (at the left end) and flats. Built between 1832 and 1848, the design is probably more attributable to Edward Jenkins than to J.B. Papworth, to whom it is normally credited. The buildings are constructed in ashlar over brick with slate mansard roofs, tall brick party-wall stacks, and decorative iron balconies, verandahs and railings.

Plan and Overall Form

The terrace adopts a symmetrical plan, with large Classical houses terminating each end. Full- and almost full-height service ranges extend to the rear.

Exterior

The buildings rise three storeys above basements, with attics. The end houses are distinguished by two outer Corinthian pillars and four fluted Corinthian columns in antis set to the ends and between windows, articulating the façades through the ground and first floors. The anta caps are carved to match, with a pediment above. A continuous entablature crowns the first floor. To the second floor, pilasters to the end ranges support a continuous crowning entablature and blocking course. The inner range is marked by horizontal rustication to the ground floor.

Each house has three first-floor windows. Original windows are 6/6 sashes in plain reveals with sills; those to the first floor are taller than those above. Attic dormers contain 3/3 sashes. Basement windows are 6/6 sashes.

The end houses have entrances to their returns, while the remaining houses have entrances to left and right sides, each approached by two roll-edged steps to eight-fielded-panel double doors with overlights with margin-lights (where original).

The left return (Willoughby, No. 1) features end breakforwards articulated through two floors with Corinthian pilasters and continuous entablature. It contains mainly 6/6 sashes, except at the centre of the first floor where an 8/8 sash sits beneath an entablature and cornice on consoles. The second floor has 2/2 horizontal-pane sashes, all in plain reveals with sills. Blind boxes remain to the ground- and first-floor windows at the right end. The central entrance is sheltered by a porch with two pairs of Ionic columns and an entablature, fronting an eight-panel door between sidelights and with an overlight.

The right return is plainer in treatment, with 6/6 sashes and one 8/8 sash. It is entered through a solid porch with paired Ionic pilasters and entablature, containing a round-arched opening with an eight-panel door and sidelights.

The rear retains 6/6 and 8/8 sashes, with some 6/6 between 2/2 sashes.

Subsidiary Features

The end houses are furnished with individual first-floor balconies displaying a web design. The remaining houses each have first-floor verandahs with cast-iron balustrades of the Carron Company double-heart-and-anthemion motif, with lyre and scroll details to the uprights, and tent roofs. Area lancet railings enclose the basement areas.

Interior

Willoughby (No. 1) contains an inner door with decorative glazing and an overlight incorporating circle and inverted teardrop glazing bars. The open-well staircase is fitted with a brass balustrade and over-rail and a mahogany handrail. A domed skylight illuminates the hallway. The ground-floor front room features a cornice with a grape frieze. Marble fireplaces are present throughout, and original joinery survives, including panelled shutters to most windows. The remainder of the terrace was not inspected.

Historical Context

The terrace was originally designed with attached Corinthian columns at the centre as well as at the ends. In execution, this scheme was modified: the end bays were given pediments and the central columns were omitted.

Suffolk Square occupies land acquired by the Earl of Suffolk from the de la Bère family. The Earl built Suffolk House upon this land for his own residence. His daughter subsequently sold much of the estate. In 1823, developer James Fisher acquired land for his Suffolk Estate. The terrace appears as partly built on Merrett's Map of 1834.

All listed buildings in Suffolk Square form a very distinguished architectural group.