Description

TQ 2882 NW CITY OF WESTMINSTER INNER CIRCLE,
REGENT'S PARK, NW1
25/1 St John's Lodge
5.2.70
G.V. II*
Villa. 1818-19 by John Raffield for C A Tulk; alterations by Decimus Burton
1831-32 (for Lord Wellesley);with extended wings, entrance screen and attic
storey and interior redecoration, by Charles Barry with Ambrose Poynter 1846-48
(for the banker Isaac Goldsmith); further interior alterations and decoration
for the 3rd Marquis of Bute 1892-c1895 by R Weir with H W Londsdale and
landscaping by Weir Schultz. One of the four surviving villas in Nash's
Regent's Park layout. Stucco; slate roof. Grecian villa elaborated as
Italianate "casina" by Barry. Barry's wings extend to form east entrance
forecourt. 2 and 3 storeys. 5 windows wide, with 3-bay entrance front between
wings and west front with central bow. Ground floor and entrance screened by
colonnaded loggia developed as large Venetian porch to centre, framed by
panelled piers with pediment overall rising into upper floors. Architraved and
corniced 1st floor windows in slightly advanced flanking bays and 2 windows to
centre in attic storey. Main cornice over 2nd floor and attic cornice and
blocking course. The boldly modelled l½ storey former library and ballroom
wings are channelled; with Venetian windows to their east ends, relief
panels above impost string to corners and circular bust-niches in spandrels;
impost string returned below blind consoled oculi to sides; plinth and bold
crowning cornice with urn-capped dies to parapet. The west front has original
(but heightened) giant pilastered bow to centre, with architraved windows.
Interesting interior, despite alterations, with elements of Raffield's work
(Soanian vestibule) but principally Barry's and Poynter's, in rich Cinquecento
style, the ballroom frescoed grotesques obliterated but Poynter's chimneypiece
and the double doors intact; central saloon-hall with galleries by Barry but
unfinished frescoes of the signs of the Zodiac by H W Londsdale who also
elaborated painted decoration of central rooms for Lord Bute; Weir Schultz
staircase and library annexe (his circular chapel demolished); etc. The formal
"Dutch" or "Old English" garden on the entrance axis east of the wings may
be part of Weir Schultz's landscaping for Lord Bute.
Country Life; July 11 1968.

Listing NGR: TQ2822282794

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• St John's Lodge at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q7593600

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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