Description

TQ 3180 NW CITY OF WESTMINSTER TEMPLE PLACE, WC2
74/11
No 2: (Incorporated
20.9.60 Accountants Hall)
G.V. II*
Former Astor Estate Office. 1895 by J L Pearson, designed to include town flat
for Lord Astor. Portland stone, slate roof. Highly sophisticated, scholarly,
yet never slavish rendition "in small" of an Early Elizabethan style,
exquisitely executed. Symmetrical front with north west wing. 2 storeys with
steep gable end roof. 5 windows wide. 4-centred arched doorway in west side
between shallow gabled breaks, one with oriel bay. South front has 4-centred
arched grouped mullion casements between large oriel bays with leaded and
stained glass lights and crenellated parapets flanking the south front.
Saddlestones to gables with finely wrought iron finials and weathervane on
ridge, delicately detailed "Tudor" chimney stacks. Very fine and richly
decorated interiors with central staircase hall with gallery of ebony columns
surrounding it at upper level, very high quality carving in an Elizabethan
manner with inventive detailing, the roof glazed between the trusses. The
principal room on the 1st floor lies behind the south front overlooking the
Thames through the oriel bays, lavishly decorated, in particular the doors
(here and throughout the house), the central door faced with nine silver-gilt
panels by Frampton of seated female figures; the stained glass in the oriels
depicting landscapes by the firm of Clayton and Bell. A remarkable ensemble,
one of Pearson's last works, and a fin de siecle counterpoint to Pugin's
ScarisbrickHall interiors.
J L Pearson; Anthony Quinney.

Listing NGR: TQ3109780887

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Two Temple Place at Wikipedia
• Two Temple Place official website
• Wikidata Q7859280

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

• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)