Description

TQ3079 SW CITY OF WESTMINSTER SMITH SQUARE, SW1
101/75
24.2.58 St John's Smith Square
Concert Hall (formerly
listed as Church of St John
the Evangelist)
G.V. I
Former parish church, now concert hall. 1713-28 by Thomas Archer,
remodelled internally after fire in 1742, burnt out in World War II and
restored to its early C.18 state 1965-68 by Marshall Sisson. Portland
stone, leaded roofs. Very bold and typically idiosyncratic Baroque,
reflecting Archer's direct experience of continental Baroque. Island site
in centre of square. Modified Greek cross with re-entrant angles screened
by rusticated convex quadrants; north and south pedimented porticoes, the
composition dominated by 4 unique corner towers. The porticoes,
approached by broad flights of steps with retaining walls surmounted by
wrought iron lampstandards, have gigantic Tuscan columns in antis and
great broken pediments framing columned and pilastered aedicules with
their own broken pediments; within porticoes: eared architrave doorways
and semicircular arched windows. The east and west ends have giant
Venetian windows framed by giant pilasters; attic over with flanking
volutes and a broken pediment framing a pedimented attic niche. The
towers are circular and pierced with Corinthian columns flanking the
openings diagonally, entablature curved out above them and crowning ogee
cupolas. Internally there are lobbies behind the porticoes; the east and
west ends are screened by broad arches on giant Corinthian columns and 2
further pairs of columns stand forward from the curved corners of the nave
proper carrying an entablature supporting a barrel vault with a quoin
vault over the centre of the nave, reintroducing the Greek cross plan
internally; wooden Ionic columns carry galleries behind the giant columns.
Renewed plain leaded glass to the windows. Brick groin valuted crypt.
St. John's is the climax of the exceptionally well preserved early C.18
enclave comprising the north side of Smith Square and Lord North, Barton
and Cowley Streets q.v.

Listing NGR: TQ3011279110

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• St John's, Smith Square at Wikipedia
• St John's, Smith Square official website
• Wikidata Q7593525

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.

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