Description

TQ 3080 NE CITY OF WESTMINSTER ALDWYCH, WC2 73/31 (North side)

Inveresk House: Nos. 1-5 1.5.86 (odd) (Including No. 346 Strand.)

G.V. II

Office block. 1906-07 by Mewes and Davis as the offices of the Morning Post, attic storeys rebuilt and heightened in the late 1920's. Norwegian granite facing on an early steel frame (see also the Ritz), slate and coppered roof. Very elegant "Louis XV-Louis XVI" design for this island block beginning the concave curve of the Aldwych, unfortunately marred by the alteration of the attic. 4 storeys and 2 tiers of dormers in steep mansard with cupola dome over Strand corner. 12 windows wide to Aldwych quadrant, 1-window curved corners, 11-window Wellington Street front and 9 windows to Exeter Street. Main entrance to bowed Strand corner, central entrances to each of 3 fronts, semicircular arched and recessed for one order with female head keystones, that to No. 346 Strand has large flanking pairs of consoles, with garland swags linking keystone, supporting break in cornice surmounted by balustraded shallow balcony with draped pairs of flanking dies. Similar but single consoles and balconies over entrances centred to each return. The ground floor is channelled with large semicircular arched windows with console keys; the bays adjoining bowed Strand corner have plain blind doorways surmounted by enriched oeil de boeuf. The 1st and 2nd floor windows are vertically grouped and recessed for one order with laurel-leafs framing the heads at 2nd floor level "hung" from be-ribboned keys; architraved 3rd floor windows framed by garlanded coupled consoles supporting main cornice. The bowed Strand corner is subtly elaborated with enriched architraves to grouped 1st and 2nd floor windows with a cornice on console brackets carrying wrought iron balconette to 3rd floor window; suspended from a plat band, between 2nd and 3rd floor levels, one finely carved, be-ribboned, bar relief trophies. The 1st floor windows of main elevations have balustrades in antis with wrought iron French balconettes in antis to those on 2nd floor. The rebuilt attic has 2- storeyed pedimented dormers and coppered dome with oeil de boeuf to Strand corner.

Edwardian Architecture and its origins; Alistair Service (ed.)

Listing NGR: TQ3059880897

External Links

• One Aldwych at Wikipedia
• One Aldwych official website
• Wikidata Q2023947

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

• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  For the Record