Description

CAMDEN

TQ2883SE CUMBERLAND TERRACE
798-1/82/290 (West side)
14/05/74 Nos.1-59 (Consecutive)
and attached railings

GV I

Monumental palace-style terrace of 59 houses. c1827. By John
Nash and J Thomson. For the Commissioners of Woods, Forests &
Land Revenues. Built by JG Bubb; arches built by WM Nurse.
Stucco. Houses in 3 blocks linked by "triumphal" arches
leading into 2 courtyards with pairs of houses and drives
leading to former mews. Terrace approximately 240m long.
EXTERIOR: central block (Nos 20-49): 4 storeys and basements.
Central projecting Ionic decastyle pedimented portico of Giant
Order, flanked by slightly less projecting similar single bays
with paired columns and attic storeys. Rusticated ground
floor, with square-headed doorways with patterned fanlights
and panelled doors where not converted for use as windows,
forming a podium. Cast-iron balconies between columns.
Entablature topped by balustraded parapet with vases and
sculpture of figures on dies. Tympanum filled with sculpture
of allegorical figures and figurative acroteria at angles.
Flanking the portico, 11 bays of rusticated ground floor and
Ionic pilasters rising through 1st and 2nd floors to carry
entablature at 3rd floor level; cornice and blocking course
above attic storey. Architraved sashes to upper floors; 1st
floor with continuous cast-iron balcony. Terminating bays
forming projecting single bay pavilions similar to single bays
flanking pedimented section of portico.
"Triumphal" Arches: linking the central and outer blocks.
Single, central, architraved archway flanked by paired Ionic
columns carrying an entablature and blocking course. Linked to
the blocks by rusticated stucco screen walls.
Outer blocks (Nos 1-17 & 52-57): 11 bays each similar to those
flanking central portico and terminating in similar bays at
each end. End houses of blocks with stucco pilastered
porticoes on returns.
Pairs of houses in courtyards behind Arches (Nos 18 & 19 and
Nos 50 & 51): stucco with slated roofs and central chimneys. 2
storeys and basements. 5 windows. Corinthian pilasters rise
through ground and 1st floors to carry modified entablature
with cornice at eaves level surmounted by arcaded parapet.
Pilastered porticoes with round-arched entrances. Recessed
sashes; ground floor tripartite. Plain 1st floor sill band.
Nos 58 & 59: pair of houses set back from terrace at north

end. Stucco with rusticated ground floor and projecting
pilasters at angles. 3 storeys and basement. 3 windows in all.
Projecting centre bay with coupled entrances flanked by
pilasters and surmounted by parapet of Greek fret pattern with
acroteria on dies. Square-headed doorways with fanlights and
panelled doors. Recessed sashes, upper floors architraved; 1st
floor with balconies to flanking sashes and central
pedimented, tripartite casement. Cornice at 2nd floor level
breaking forward with pilasters; similar above 2nd floor with
blocking course.
INTERIORS: not inspected.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: attached cast-iron railings with
tasselled spearhead finials to all areas and gardens of Nos 58
& 59.
HISTORICAL NOTE: designed to give the appearance of a palace
overlooking the natural landscape of Regent's Park. The King's
guinguette, had it been built, would have stood almost
opposite.
(Survey of London: Vol. XIX, Old St Pancras and Kentish Town
(St Pancras II): London: -1938: 116).

Listing NGR: TQ2868783106

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Cumberland Terrace at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q3007519

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

• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair