Description

TQ 2881 NE CITY OF WESTMINSTER PORTLAND PLACE, Wl
45/46 (east side)

10.9.54 (No 42 only)
5.5.58 Nos. 34 to 52 (even)

G.V. II*

Terrace of large 1st rate town houses. 1776-c.1780, by James Adam, as a
speculative development with his brothers and John Elwes on a Portland
Estate lease. Stock brick, Nos. 46, and 48 and 52 stuccoed and all with
channelled or lightly rusticated ground floors. Built as a symmetrical
block with Nos. 46 and 48 as the central pair emphasised by giant pilaster
order and pediment. 3 main storeys with dormered mansards to Nos. 46-48
and full attic storeys added to rest; Nos. 34 and 36 with added mansards.
3-window wide fronts except for Nos. 46-48 which are composed as a
symmetrical 5-window front. Entrances grouped in pairs except for No. 34
with Corinthian columned porch to return; broad semicircular arched
doorways; double doors, panelled divider or columned side lights, corniced
doorheads,some with rams' heads, under fanlights. Recessed sashes, under
flat gauged arches,to upper floors. Plat band finishes off stuccowork of
ground floors; stucco moulded band over 1st floor; stucco entablature over
2nd floor (No. 40 with balustrade) and attic cornice and blocking course.
Nos. 46-48 are elaborated as pair with segmental arched recessed apsidal
entrance containing doorways set on curve; the windows to left and right
of entrance are set in elliptical arched shallow recesses; above the
centre 3 bays are articulated by giant order of composite pilasters rising
to main entablature with enriched frieze; shallow pediment with relief
roundel, over centre 3 bays; between 2nd floor string and sill course the
apron field has alternating , rectangular and circular, urn and gryphon
and patera relief panels. Continuous 1st floor cast iron balconies of
early or mid C.19 pattern. Cast iron area railings with urn or plumbed
spike finials. Fine Adam interior features survive in particular Nos. 34,
40, 44 and 46, with delicate plasterwork, geometrical stone staircases,
statuary marble chimneypieces and overmantel reliefs, etc.

Listing NGR: TQ2881781804

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17549821

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)