Description

TQ 2881 SE CITY OF WESTMINSTER WIGMORE STREET W1
56/60 (south side)
10.4.73 Nos 27 to 37 (odd)
GV II
Built as department store (Debenham and Freebody's). Dated 1907 by William Wallace and
James Gibson. Entirely faced with white Doulton Carrara tiles. Vast Baroque revival
design, slate roof. Five storeys. Nineteen windows wide in all, not quite symmetrical
as the 2 end bays next to right hand splayed corner fall outside the symmetry. The
remainder has 3 segmental pedimented breaks, reading as giant aedicules above the first
floor. The ground and mezzanine floors are composed as one, set in giant arcade with
console keys to archivolts, the mezzanine lit by lunettes above plate glass show
windows. The large centre break has main columned entrance, pedimented aedicule niche
to first floor; second and third floors recessed with columns flanking central window,
all framed by rusticated panelled piers with garlanded cartouche caps wing through main
entablature to segmental pedimented attic aedicule with crest of Royal Arms. Behind is
a large, columned aedicule lantern-turret. The outer segmental pedimented breaks are
similar but with lower set pediments surmounted by groups of putti and a blind attic.
The low first floor is channelled with recessed 2 light windows divided by columns.
Upper floors between breaks have windows vertically framed through 2 storeys with keyed
and garlanded archivolts, articulated by Ionic pilasters. Bold modillion cornice and
parapet. Interior retains grand marble clad hall with columns flanking main flight of
marble staircase etc; plasterwork in range of first floor rooms overlooking street by
Ernest Gimson.

Listing NGR: TQ2859481320

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• 27-37 Wigmore Street at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q26319089

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

• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability