Numbers 8-13 and Attached Railings. Number 11 Incorporating the Former Number 10, Holborn and Covent Garden, London

Description

CAMDEN

TQ3081NE BEDFORD ROW
798-1/101/1810 (East side)
24/10/51 Nos.8-13 (Consecutive)
and attached railings. No.11
incorporating the former No.10
(Formerly Listed as:
BEDFORD ROW
Nos.1-9 AND 11-17 (Consecutive))

GV II*

6 terraced houses. 1717-18. By Robert Burford, carpenter, on
land leased to him and George Devall, plumber, by Margaret
Skipwith in 1716. Most with internal alterations of high
quality c1820. No.10 (gutted in 1941) rebuilt in replica after
Second World War as part of No.11. Brown or yellow stock brick
with some refacing of upper storeys and parapets. Tiled
mansard roofs at right-angles to street front, those to Nos 10
and 11 slated.
EXTERIOR/PLAN: each house is 2 rooms deep, originally with
cross passage between them but in early C19 incorporated into
front rooms as buffet alcove; this spaced filled at upper
levels with stair, all with closet wings. Principal stair to
rear of entrance extends to first floor only, with rooms over
this space at upper levels. Rear extensions over gardens and
mews not of interest except where noted. Brick bands at first
floor level. No.12 tuck pointed. 4 storeys and basements. 3
windows each, No.11 four windows wide. Gauged red brick arches
and dressings to flush frame sash windows.
Nos 8-9: wood architraved doorcases with good carved brackets,
panelled soffits to flat hoods, patterned fanlights and
panelled doors.
No.11: C20 wood doorcase with fluted Doric engaged columns
carrying entablature and modillion cornice, patterned fanlight
and panelled door.
Nos 12 and 13 have wood architraved doorcases with good carved
brackets, panelled soffits to flat hoods, with patterned
fanlights and panelled doors complete with original hinges and
bars. Some houses with original lead rainwater heads inscribed
1718.
INTERIORS: No.8 with fully panelled ground floor rooms and box
cornices. Entrance hall also fully panelled with Corinthian
pilasters forming inner arch. Fine open-string staircase with
twisted balusters and decorated tread ends, counterpoised by
continuous dado on other side. Upper floors not inspected but
noted to be of high quality.

No.9 has fully panelled entrance hall with dado rail and box
cornices, marble tiled floor. Fluted pilasters with Corinthian
pilasters to inner arch. Ground-floor rooms with raised and
fielded panelling, with smaller panels over fireplaces, and
shutters. Front room with flat arch leading to curved buffet
arch. Early C19 cornice. Ground-floor rear room and closet
with full panelling, box cornices and corner fireplaces. Room
beyond closet a later C18 addition fully panelled with simple
cornice and early C20 fireplace. Grand staircase to first
floor with open-string staircase with decorated ends, twisted
balusters set three per square; a corresponding panelled dado
with small Corinthian pilasters at head, foot and turn of
flights; box cornices; shutters to giant staircase window.
First floor rooms with early C19 ceilings and fireplaces, the
rear room with corner fireplace and closet having early C18
panelling. Between the main rooms closed-string staircase with
chunky turned balusters rises to third floor, all save return
flight to second floor renewed in 1994. Second floor with
simpler ovolo-moulded panelling and dado, rear room with
Adamesque fireplace with marble lining and box cornice; closet
with corner fireplace and cast-iron grate. Front room
partitioned but retains full-height ovolo panelling and dado
and fireplace with marble surround. Over principal stair
another rear room with ovolo panelling, box cornice and
fireplace. Third floor with some panelling and early C20
fireplaces. Attic reached by stick baluster stair.
No.10 incorporated as part of No.11 in 1944. It has a
fireplace moved from the ground floor of No.11 and now forms
part of that address. No.11 is the most impressive house in
the row, built on a larger plot for Dame Rebecca Moyer,
resident 1720-23. Her initials and the date 1720 on water
tanks brought from basement and now in conference room added
1950s in sympathetic style to rear. Pair of closet wings at
rear. Magnificent entrance hall and staircase. The staircase
with twisted balusters and landing, filling front entrance
hall. Hall with corner fireplace, fully panelled and with fine
and complete sequence of wall paintings by John Vanderbank in
commemoration of George I, mounted and surrounded by
allegorical figures in painted architectural surround, early
1720s. Secondary stair to rear of this at ground floor
continues as principal stair from first to third floor, with
turned balusters on closed string, corresponding dadoes and
panelling. Ground-floor front room with C18 panelling and
early C19 cornices, shutters and fireplace. Rear room with
early C19 cornices and fireplace brought from third floor.
Ground-floor panelled closet wing to rear of stair with corner
fireplace. First floor rooms continue this lavish combination
of fine raised and fielded panelling with richly moulded early

C19 cornices and marble fireplaces. Second floor retains box
cornices, ovolo panelling, and fireplaces. Third floor with
plain panelling, most complete in rear rooms. Basement wine
cellars.
Nos 12 and 13 in common ownership with linking doors. No.12
has fully panelled entrance and staircase hall with fluted
Corinthian pilasters to inner arch. From ground to first floor
a handsome open-string stair with decorative ends and twisted
balusters, three per tread, with corresponding dado which has
Corinthian pilaster strips at head, foot and turn of flights
extending to full height. Ground-floor front room divided by
timber Corinthian columns of early C19 to form buffet. Marble
fireplace, cornice, shutters with C18 hinges as in staircase
hall. Rear room with marble fireplace under dentilled
mantlepiece, ovolo-panelled closet. First floor altered early
C19 with cornices to both rooms and ceiling rose to front
room. Central closed-string stair with turned balusters rises
from first floor to attic in central compartment at
right-angles to street. Second floor with ovolo panelling to
all rooms, and fireplaces in those to rear. Third floor
retains panelling and cupboards to rear room; panelling to
front room very simple.
No.13 has fully panelled entrance hall, and staircase of
identical pattern to those in Nos 8, 9 and 12 but woodgrained
and never painted. However, staircase hall has plaster moulded
swags and drops between panels, with richly moulded fruit and
leaves - rare in a London townhouse of this date. Ground-floor
front room divided by marbled timber columns supporting arch
to rear buffet, box cornices and full panelling with dado
rail. C19 fireplace. Rear room also fully panelled with
closet, the latter carefully restored on all floors in 1992.
First floor front room with handsome early C19 marble
fireplace and cornice. Rear room with C18 panelling and C18
marble fireplace in later Victorian surround. Door to closet
treated as continuation of panelling to dado height with upper
section treated as window with early C19 glazing bars.
Panelled closet with 1820s grate. Closed string staircase
rises from first to third floors through centre of house at
right-angles to street, panelled and with corresponding dado
panelling flanking stair. Second-floor rooms with ovolo
panelling, box cornices and cupboard with H-hinges; C19
fireplace to front, C18 fireplace in closet. Third floor
retains some simple panelling and matchboarding, with C18 rear
corner fireplace at rear.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: attached cast-iron railings to areas,
some with urn or torch flambe finials.
HISTORICAL NOTE: a fascinating and well-preserved group of
houses of unusual richness which together form a group of

exceptional quality. The painted staircase hall in No.11 is an
individual piece of architectural bravura, making for one of
the finest early C18 interiors in London.
(British Printing Industries Federation: 11 Bedford Row:
-1992).

Listing NGR: TQ3084081763

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