Description

In the entry for:
TQ 2981 SW & SE CITY OF WESTMINSTER WARDOUR STREET, W1
57/34; 58/4
24.1.69 Nos. 152 to 160 (even)
GV II
the description shall be amended to read as follows:

Commercial premises. 1906 by F L Pearson, built for Novello's music publishers. Red brick with
lavish stone dressings in Portland ashlar, slate roof Free style underpinned by careful reference
to Nordic late Renaissance, viz Pevsner 'The Hanseatic Town Hall' and comparison with the
Bremen Rathaus. 3 storeys and deep dormered mansard. Stone columned arcaded ground floor
in a free Ionic order with depressed arches projecting to carry 5 windows wide full-height upper
storey with large transomed 3-light windows surmounted by pediments alternately segmental and
triangular. There are side entrances but the former main entrance is in left recessed bay with
elaborate oriel window above. Entablature over ground floor, large bracketed stone cornice and
parapet with coiling. Plainer return to Sheraton Street 6 windows wide.
Interior continues classical theme in more late C17 English style. Main entrance leads into hall
panelled in plaster imitating wood. Fireplace witheared and scrolled surround. Rectangular
opening set with cartouche and swags under heavy egg and dart cornice leads to open stairwell
closely modelled on Ashburnham House, Westminster School (q.v.). Cantilevered stair with
bulbous balusters and rail. Giant Ionic order above egg and dart dado, its base set in a band of
fruit and swags, and with panels featuring musical instruments. Heavily banded flat ceiling is
broken by central cupola, with paired Corinthian columns. Double screen of Ionic columns leads
to anteroom with heavy cornice and bolection-moulded fireplace under massive cartouche of fruit
and flowers. Double door with openwork swags leads to Great Hall, a recital room 5 bays by 3
and of double height. Bolection-moulded wooden panelling and giant fluted Corinthian order,
musicians' gallery with curly balusters reached by dog-leg stair. Trabeated ceiling has modillion
cornice. Matching 3-bay ends have central double doors under broken segmental pediments with
Corinthian columns and busts, flanked by glazed bookcases. Windows have shutters and scroll
pediments. 2 chandeliers.
Rear part of premises 1898 by F L Pearson as printing and binding departments is a simplified
version, with three storeys, arcaded ground floor, two main upper floors with cross-mullioned
windows and attic above cornice.
Source: Survey of London vol.XXXIII, 1966

------------------------------------

TQ 2981 SW & SE CITY OF WESTMINSTER WARDOUR STREET, W1
57/34; 58/4
Nos. 152 to 160 (even)
24.1.69
GV II
Commercial premises. 1906 by the younger F.L. Pearson,built for Novello's. Red
brick with lavish stone dressings in Portland ashlar, slate roof. Free Style
underpinned by careful reference to Nordic late Renaissance,viz Pevsner "the
Hanseatic Town Hall". 3 storeys and steep dormered mansard. Stone columned arcaded
ground floor in a free Ionic order with depressed arches projecting to carry 5
windows wide full height upper storey with large transomed 3 light windows surmounted
by pediments alternately segmental and triangular. There are side entrances
but the former main entrance is in left recessed bay with elaborate oriel window
above. Entablature over ground floor, large bracketed stone cornice and parapet with
coping. Plainer return to Sheraton Street 6 windows wide. Rear part of premises
date from 1898 with frontages to Sheraton and Hollen Streets, simplified version of
front block with 3 storeys, arcaded ground floor, 2 main upper floors with
cross-mullioned windows and attic above cornice.
Survey of London; Vol. XXXI

Listing NGR: TQ2950881211

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q27083607

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.

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