Number 7 London, England

Text courtesy of Historic England. © Crown Copyright, reprinted under the Open Government License.

In the entry for: TQ 3079 SW OLD PALACE YARD, SW1 101/10 (south side) 5.2.70 No. 7 (including former no. 6) (formerly listed under nos. 6 and 7) GV II the grade shall be amended to read grade II* (star) and the description shall be amended to read as follows: 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.)

TQ 3079 SW CITY OF WESTMINSTER OLD PALACE YARD, SW1 101/10 (south side) 5.2.70 No 7 (including former No 6) (formerly listed under Nos 6 and 7) G.V. II Pair of town houses. c.1754-56. Traditionally attributed to John Vardy,