Description

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 05/10/2012

TQ 3079 SW
101/10
5.2.70

OLD PALACE YARD, SW1
(south side)
No. 7 (Including former No. 6)

(Formerly listed under Nos. 6 and 7)

GV
II*

Pair of town houses. c1754-6,built as residences and offices
of Clerks of the Parliaments, with alterations of 1793-4.
Original design traditionally attributed to John Vardy, the
design has been identified with an elevation in a folio of
drawings associated with Isaac Ware and other Office of Works
architects. 1793-4 alterations now attributed to Sir John
Soane. Portland stone front,left side rendered, brown brick to
other elevations with patches of stock brick. Slate roof with
rendered chimneystacks. Astylar Palladian elevation with a
unified composition. 3 storeys, basement and dormered attic. 7
windows wide with 3-window pedimented centre break. Paired
central doorways, one now a window. Ground floor windows and
doors all semicircular arched and set in similarly arched
recesses with impost band creating blind arcade effect. Piano
nobile 1st floor has recessed glazing bar sashes in architrave
surrounds, those to centre break with pediments and blind
balusters below sills. Square 2nd floor windows. Oculus in
pediment. Lead rainwater heads. The ground floor is rusticated
with plat band over. Bracketed cornice and pediment, blocking
course. Wrought iron area railings with urn finial standards,
probably C20 replacements. Interior has vaulted vestibule,
attributed to Soane, with lions' head masks as corbels.
Semi-circular fanlight and double doors. Further vaulted
passage behind with paired lions' head masks and circular
plaque with head of Medusa and acanthus leaves. Late C18 well
staircase to right hand side with 2 iron balusters to each
step and mahogany handrail. Lefthand staircase identical
except for 1st to 2nd floor flight which retains original
1750s staircase with turned balusters and column newel posts.
Basement has quadripartite vault with tooled impost blocks.
Ground floor right room has mid C18 panelling with dado rail
and marble fireplace with wooden ovolo moulding and blank
panel. Cornice with ovolo moulding. 6 panelled door. Ground
floor rear right room has has late C18 marble fireplace with
four-leaved square paterae. Similar cornice with square
paterae. Ground floor rear left room has late C18 marble fire
place with triglyph frieze and panel with wreath, 2 crossed
staffs and flowers. Moulded cornice. Cambered alcove. First
floor front right room has Late C18 marble fireplace with
triglyph frieze, panel with urn and oval paterae and wheat ear
drops. Mid C18 modillion cornice and ovolo moulding. Rear
right room has late C18 marble fireplace with oval medallions,
leaves and pilasters.Mid-C18 dado panelling and ovolo
moulding. Circular vestibule with curved late C18 6 panelled
door, curved end double doors with fanlight. Front left room
has late C18 marble fireplace, cornice with triglyphs and
medallions with 2 figures. Double door. Rear left room has
late C18 stone fireplace with fluted pilasters, triglyph
frieze, panel depicting seated Britannia leaning against a
lion and greeting heroic youth laden with baggage and
three-masted ship in the background. Cupid to left leans
against wheat stack. Cupid to right with barrel. Cornice of
roundels and anthemions. 6 panelled door with surround of
6-petalled flowers. Second floor has 6 plain marble
fireplaces.
(History of the Kings' Works, vol v; Howard Colvin ed.
Catalogue of British Drawings for Architecture
etc. in American collections; John Harris.
Richard Hewlings,
"Nos 6/7 Old Palace Yard, Westminster; Interim report, 14
August 1992.)

Listing NGR: TQ3016279404

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17550420

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

• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)