This house forms the eastern half of the central feature on the north
side of the square. Its interior has been considerably altered, but the
original carved white marble chimneypiece shown on Plate 81 still
remains.
The motif of the central panel is similar to that at No. 11, but is not
quite so gracefully expressed. The shelf appears to be a modern
substitute, and out of harmony with the requirements of the design.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The earliest occupier of this house was, according to the
ratebooks, the Rev. Frederick Hamilton, who resided there from
1784 to 1786. In the latter year he was succeeded by Thos. Hankey,
who remained at the house until after the close of the century.
IN THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION IS:—
[736]Marble chimneypiece in front room on ground floor
(photograph).
LXXVIII.—NO. 23, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD.
His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
This house was not in existence on 20th November, 1777,[737] and the
first mention of it in the parish ratebooks occurs in 1781. Few of the
decorations in the house are original, the two principal exceptions
being the plaster ceiling of the front room on the first floor, and a
fine doorcase and pair of doors (Plate 82), connecting that room with
the one in the rear.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
In 1781 “Jas. Bailey” is shown as the occupier of the house. For
the next few years no name is given, but in 1785 that of Thomas
Burn appears and continues for the remainder of the century.
IN THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION ARE:—
[738]No. 23, Bedford Square. Doors and doorcase in front room on
ground floor (photograph).
No. 24, Bedford Square. Entrance doorway (photograph).
LXXIX.—NO. 25, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G.; lessee, the Rev.
Lewis Gilbertson, M.A., F.S.A.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
On 20th November, 1777, a lease[739] was granted of a plot of ground
with three messuages thereon, on the north side of Bedford Square, being
the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth houses eastward from Tottenham
Court Road, abutting east upon ground to be built upon, west upon a
messuage in Bedford Street (now Bayley Street), and north upon ground
belonging to the City of London. The dimensions of the plot are said to
be: 99¼ feet on the south, 73 feet on the east, 67½ feet on the west,
and 98½ feet on the north, thus corresponding to the sites of Nos. 24 to
27 (_four_ houses) at the present day.
[Illustration: GROUND FLOOR PLAN FIRST FLOOR PLAN]
No. 25 is the westernmost house of the northern block included in the
design for the square, the two houses adjoining to the west being in
harmony with the remaining premises in Bayley Street. The house is of
special interest.
The vestibule is divided from the hall by a screen similar in
architectural character to the front doorcase, and still retains the
original fanlight. The staircase is of stone with a wrought-iron
balustrade and mahogany handrail. Beneath the first floor landing is a
moulded plaster frieze.
The ground floor front room has a fine carved wooden chimneypiece with
jasper lining (Plate 83). On the chimney breast above is a circular
plaque enclosing figure ornament and other decorative plaster work. The
side of the room facing the window is treated as a segmental alcove,
shown on the above plan, with coved ceiling as shown on Plate 83.
The front room on the first floor has carved joinery to the doors and
windows, and the white and coloured marble chimneypiece (Plate 84) is a
good example of the period. The ceiling of this room has a decorative
plaster design with four oval figure plaques.
The rear room on this floor has also good joinery, and a white marble
chimneypiece (Plate 84) with painted panels. The decorative plaster
ceiling (Plate 85) is ornamented with painted panels which, according to
the Rev. Lewis Gilbertson, the occupier, are the work of Angelica
Kauffmann.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The first occupant of the house was John Boddington, whose
residence there apparently lasted from 1780 to 1786, when he was
succeeded by Cuthbert Fisher, who stayed until 1799. In the latter
year Mrs. Bootle took the house.
THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION CONTAINS:—
[740]Ground and first floor plans (measured drawing).
[740]Chimney breast in front room on ground floor (photograph).
[740]Alcove in front room on ground floor (photograph).
General view of front room on first floor (photograph).
Ornamental plaster ceiling in front room on first floor
(photograph).
[740]Marble chimneypiece in front room on first floor
(photograph).
[740]Marble chimneypiece in rear room on first floor (photograph).
Detail of doorcase in rear room on first floor (photograph).
[740]Ornamental plaster ceiling with painted panels in rear room
on first floor (photograph).
LXXX.—NO. 28, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G.; lessees, the
Society of Architects.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
On 1st November, 1776, a lease was granted[741] of a messuage at the
west end of Bedford Square, “on the south side of a new street called
Bedford Street” (now Bayley Street), having a frontage to the square of
28¾ feet, and a depth of about 143 feet. The premises referred to are
obviously No. 28, the northernmost house of the west block. The house
has been greatly altered, and partly rebuilt. It retains in the ground
floor front room the original white marble chimneypiece shown on Plate
86, with a sculptured panel in the frieze, which is also shown to a
larger scale.
The front room on the first floor contains a decorative plaster ceiling,
and a carved wood and composition chimneypiece, which, though in keeping
with the style of the room, is probably not contemporary with the
erection of the house.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The house first appears in the ratebook for 1779. Geo. Drake was
then the occupier and he continued to reside there until after
1800.
THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION CONTAINS:—
[742]Marble chimneypiece in front room on ground floor
(photograph).
[742]Detail of central panel of marble chimneypiece in front room
on ground floor (photograph).
Wood chimneypiece in front room on first floor (photograph).
LXXXI.—NO. 30, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G.; lessee, the
Russian Consulate-General.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
On 1st November, 1776, a lease was granted[743] as from Michaelmas,
1775, of “all that parcel of ground, with a messuage thereon, on the
west side of Bedford Square, being the third house southward from
Bedford Street,” now Bayley Street.
The front room on the ground floor has a chimneypiece of white and
coloured marble. The frieze is fluted, and contains sculptured figures.
The front room on the first floor has its walls treated as large panels,
and over the two doors are decorative paintings. The chimney piece is of
white marble, and the flutings of the pilasters are inlaid with coloured
marble. The ornamental plaster ceiling (Plate 87) is of very delicate
design. The figures in the oval medallion are modelled on classical
lines, and in their delicacy are suggestive of cameos.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The occupiers of this house, according to the ratebooks, were:—
1778–79. Jas. Lee.
1779–93. Robt. Cooper Lee.
1793– Wm. Tatnell.
THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION CONTAINS:—
Marble chimneypiece in front room on ground floor (photograph).
[744]Ornamental plaster ceiling in front room on first floor
(photograph).
LXXXII.—NO. 31, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, His Grace the Duke of Bedford; lessee, Mrs. Whitehead.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
On 1st November, 1776, a lease[745] was also granted of the fourth house
from Bedford Street, on the west side of the square. This was evidently
No. 31.
The screen between the vestibule and hall has an ornamental fanlight;
the stone stairs have wrought-iron scroll balusters and the wood work
generally has enriched mouldings.
The front room on the ground floor contains a white marble chimneypiece,
with Ionic pilasters, and is inlaid with coloured marble.
The rear room on the same floor has a wood and composition ornamental
chimneypiece, with coupled columns at the sides, and a decorative panel
in the frieze.
The ceiling of the front room on the first floor is a remarkable example
of ornamental plaster work. Another of the same design is in No. 47, and
is illustrated on Plate 101.
The rear room on the same floor has a white marble chimneypiece, with
green marble inlay, and a well designed plaster ceiling with four square
panels containing oval plaques forming part of the design (Plate 88).
Another of almost similar pattern is in No. 41, Bedford Square.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The ratebooks give the following names in connection with the
house:—
1778–79. —— Scott.
1779–82. The “Hon. Baron Perryn.”
1783–89. Sir Samuel Hanney.
1789–94. Silvester Douglas.
1794–98. Geo. L. Newnham.
1798– Jno. Godfrey.
Sir Richard Perryn, born in 1723, was the son of a merchant of
Flint. After an education at Ruthin grammar school and Queen’s
College, Oxford, he took up the profession of the law, and was
called to the Bar in 1747. In 1770 he became vice-chamberlain of
Chester, King’s counsel, and a bencher of the Inner Temple. In
1776 he was appointed baron of the exchequer and was knighted. He
retired from the Bench in 1799, and died in 1803. After leaving
Bedford Square he resided at No. 59, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, at
which house he is shown by the ratebooks for the years 1784 to
1791.[746]
Sylvester Douglas, Baron Glenbervie, son of John Douglas of
Fechil, Aberdeenshire, was born in 1743. He was educated at the
Universities of Aberdeen and Leyden, and at first proposed to
adopt a medical career, but subsequently took up the legal
profession, being called to the Bar in 1776. In 1793 he was
appointed King’s counsel, but shortly afterwards relinquished his
legal career and devoted himself to politics, a decision probably
influenced by the fact that he had in 1789 married the daughter of
Lord North, afterwards second Earl of Guildford. In 1794 he became
Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland and was elected a
member of the Irish Parliament. In the same year, he was sworn a
member of the English privy council, and in 1795 he relinquished
his secretarial position and was returned to the English
Parliament as member for Fowey. He afterwards represented Midhurst
and Plympton Earls. For some time he had a seat on the board of
control, and was from 1797 to 1800 a lord of the Treasury, a
position which he resigned on being appointed Governor of the Cape
of Good Hope, though he never took up the appointment. In the same
year (1800) he was created Baron Glenbervie of Kincardine in the
peerage of Ireland. In 1801 he became joint paymaster-general and
subsequently held the positions of vice-president of the Board of
Trade, and surveyor-general of woods and forests, with which
latter office, that of surveyor-general of the land revenue was
afterwards united. He died at Cheltenham in 1823.
IN THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION ARE:—
Marble chimneypiece in front room on first floor (photograph).
Ornamental plaster ceiling in front room on first floor
(photograph).
[747]Ornamental plaster ceiling in rear room on first floor
(photograph).
LXXXIII.—NO. 32, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G.; lessee, Henry
Alexander McPherson, Esq.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
On 1st November, 1776, a lease[748] was also granted of the fifth house
southward from Bedford Street, on the west side of the square, that is
No. 32.
This house, which is in the centre of the west block, has a front (Plate
89) of less width than that of the corresponding house on the opposite
side (Nos. 6 and 6A).
The entrance doorway is placed at the side, and enriched with Greek
Doric attached columns.
The vestibule is divided from the hall by a screen with a semi-circular
fanlight, and beyond this is another separating the staircase (Plate
90). The latter has two detached Ionic columns, each with a block
architrave and frieze, and a cornice spanning across to the wall. The
semi-circular arch above has the spandrils ornamented on both faces with
decorative plaster designs, that facing the entrance being the more
interesting.
The staircase is of stone with spandril treads, having moulded soffits.
The handrail is of mahogany, and the balustrading of plain wrought iron
bars, excepting that at the ends and the middle of each flight are
ornamental balusters of scroll design giving interest to the treatment.
[Illustration:
WROUGHT IRON STAIR BALUSTERS
]
The front room on the ground floor has an ornamental plaster ceiling of
a more severe type than is met with generally in the houses of this
square.
The back room on the same floor has also a good decorative plaster
ceiling (Plate 92), and a white marble chimney piece with buff mottled
marble lining and panelled pilasters (Plate 91).
The front room on the first floor has a chimneypiece of white marble,
and the ceiling an ornamental centre and border.
The rear room contains a white marble chimneypiece with a sculptured
central panel representing Britannia and Commerce. The ceiling is
elaborately treated in ornamental plaster work (Plate 92).
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The occupants of this house, according to the ratebooks, were:
1780–92. Sir John Skinner.
1792–95. Jas. Jackson.
1796–99. Mrs. Jackson.
1799– Mr. Justice Le Blanc.
Sir Simon Le Blanc was born about 1748, and was called to the Bar
in 1773. In course of time he acquired considerable practice, and
in 1787 was called to the degree of serjeant-at-law. In 1799 he
was appointed puisne judge of the King’s bench, and was knighted.
He had a great reputation as a lawyer, and was regarded as an
exceptionally able judge. He died in his house in Bedford Square
in 1816[749].
THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION CONTAINS:—
No. 32, Bedford Square.
[750]Front elevation (measured drawing).
Internal screen in hall (photograph).
Ornamental plaster ceiling over staircase (photograph).
[750]Detail of wrought iron balustrade to staircase (measured
drawing).
Ornamental plaster ceiling in front room on ground floor
(photograph).
[750]Detail of chimneypiece in rear room on ground floor
(photograph).
[750]Ornamental plaster ceiling in rear room on ground floor
(photograph).
Ornamental plaster ceiling in front room on first floor
(photograph).
[750]Ornamental plaster ceiling in rear room on first floor
(photograph).
Detail of frieze and cornice in rear room on first floor
(photograph).
[750]Detail of marble chimneypiece in rear room on first floor
(photograph).
No. 34, Bedford Square.
Plaster panel “Summer and Winter” in rear room on first floor
(photograph).
No. 35, Bedford Square.
Ground and first floor plans (measured drawing).
Ornamental plaster ceiling in front room on first floor
(photograph).
No. 38, Bedford Square.
Ground and first floor plans (measured drawing).
Wood and decorative chimneypiece (photograph).
LXXXIV.—NO. 40, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G.; lessee, Mrs.
Monico.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
On 20th November, 1777, a lease[751] was granted of a parcel of ground,
and a messuage thereon on the south side of Bedford Square, and the east
side of Caroline Street, “being a corner house.” This was obviously No.
40, the house at the western end of the south block.
The front room on the ground floor contains a white marble chimneypiece
of simple design, with inlay panels of Siena marble. Above is a fine
oval plaque (Plate 93), containing figures. The frieze and cornice to
the room appear to be part of the original work.
The front room on the first floor has a plaster ceiling (Plate 94) of
simple and delicate design with circular painted panels in the style of
Antonio Zucchi, or Angelica Kauffmann.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The earliest occupant of the house seems to have been William
Dickey who, according to the ratebooks, resided there from 1782 to
1791. From 1792 until after the close of the century, Thomas Green
was the occupier.
IN THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION ARE:—
[752]Chimney-breast in front room on ground floor (plaster plaque
illustrated) (photograph).
[752]Ornamental plaster ceiling with painted panels in front room
on first floor (photograph).
LXXXV.—NO. 41, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground Landlord, His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G.; lessee, Anthony
Hope Hawkins, Esq.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
On 20th November, 1777, a lease[753] was granted of the thirteenth house
from Charlotte Street, on the south side of Bedford Square. This is now
No. 41, Bedford Square.
The premises have been considerably modernized, but four chimneypieces
remain, that in the front room on the ground floor being Greek in
character, with panelled pilasters and acanthus capitals. The one in the
rear room on the same floor is treated with three-quarter Ionic columns
carrying the cornice directly over, to which a shelf of later date has
been added.
On the first floor, the chimneypiece in the front room (Plate 95) has
coupled and bracketed pilasters and sculptured frieze. That in the rear
room (Plate 95) is inlaid with mottled green marble. It retains the
original cast-iron grate. The ornamental plaster ceiling in this room
has four oval plaques in square panels. According to Mr. Anthony Hope
Hawkins, the present occupier, it is composed partly of old portions of
a ceiling formerly in No. 30 or No. 31, Bedford Square, the remaining
part being a copy of a ceiling still existing in one of these houses.
The ceiling appears to be a replica of that in the rear room of No. 31
(Plate 88), with the exception that it is of less width, and
consequently the central design, instead of being circular, is
compressed into an oval form.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
According to the ratebooks, Robert Peers took the house in 1782
and remained there until after the close of the century.
THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION CONTAINS:—
Detail of marble chimneypiece in front room on ground floor
(photograph).
Detail of marble chimneypiece in rear room on ground floor
(photograph).
[754]Marble chimneypiece in front room on first floor
(photograph).
Ornamental plaster ceiling in rear room on first floor
(photograph).
[754]Marble chimneypiece in rear room on first floor (photograph).
LXXXVI.—NO. 44, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G.; lessee, Philip
Morrell, Esq., M.P.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
On 20th November, 1777, a lease[755] was granted of the tenth house
westward from Charlotte Street, on the south side of Bedford Square.
This was No. 44, Bedford Square.
The front room on the first floor has a ceiling of good design (Plate
96), and in the room behind the staircase is a small white marble
chimneypiece, carved in low relief, and decorated with inlay of Siena
marble.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The occupiers of this house, according to the ratebooks, were as
follows:—
1782–84. Thos. Hibbert.
1784–94. T. S. Jackson.
1794– Henry Gregg.
THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION CONTAINS:—
[756]Ornamental plaster ceiling in front room on first floor
(photograph).
LXXXVII.—NO. 46, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G.; lessees, Messrs.
Royds, Rawstorne and Co.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
The lease[757] granted on 20th November, 1777, of No. 45, Bedford
Square, refers to that house’s eastern boundary as “a messuage lately
erected.”
No. 46 forms the western half of the central feature on the southern
side of the square. It will be noticed in the photograph (Plate 97) that
an unusual expedient has been adopted by introducing a central pilaster.
The staircase is of stone, with wrought-iron balustrade of coupled plain
bars, alternating with balusters of scroll work. The handrail is of
mahogany, and the lighting is obtained by an oval-shaped lantern.
The principal doors are of mahogany, with finely marked panels, and the
metal fittings are silver plated.
There are three carved white marble chimneypieces. In the case of that
in the front room on the ground floor (Plate 98), coloured marble is
introduced as a Greek fret in the frieze, and as plain strips at the
sides, and the central panel is carved to represent a Cupid sleeping.
That in the front room on the first floor (Plate 98) has two
three-quarter columns with coloured marble shafts supporting Ionic
capitals. The frieze is finely carved, the central panel representing
three Cupids at play. The chimneypiece in the rear room on the same
floor has also good carving in low relief with a central panel.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The following are the names of the occupiers of the house during
the 18th century, according to the ratebooks:—
1782–90. Samuel Castell.
1790–96. Andrew Reid.
1796– Jas. Bailie.
THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION CONTAINS:—
[758]Exterior, with that of No. 47 (photograph).
[758]Marble chimneypiece in front room on ground floor
(photograph).
[758]Marble chimneypiece in front room on first floor
(photograph).
Marble chimneypiece in back room on first floor (photograph).
LXXXVIII.—NO. 47, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G.; lessee, Frederick
W. Lanchester, Esq.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
On 20th November, 1777, a lease[759] was granted of the seventh house
westward from Charlotte Street, on the south side of Bedford Square.
This was No. 47, Bedford Square.
In plan and arrangement this house is similar to No. 46. The doorway is
well shown on Plate 99. A photograph of the ceiling above the staircase
is given on Plate 100. The front room on the first floor contains a
remarkable ceiling, a portion of which is shown on Plate 101. Another of
similar design is in the front room of No. 31. The carved wood
chimneypiece (Plate 100) in the same room has a central panel
representing a sacrifice (bull before an altar).
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The occupants of this house are given by the ratebooks as
follows:—
1782–89. John Raymond.
1789–99. John Raymond Barker.
1799– Peter Pole.
THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION CONTAINS:—
[760]Entrance doorway (measured drawing).
[760]Ornamental plaster ceiling and lantern light over staircase
(photograph).
[760]Carved wood chimneypiece in front room on first floor
(photograph).
[760]Ornamental plaster ceiling in front room on first floor
(photograph).
LXXXIX.—NO. 48, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD.
His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
On 16th January, 1777, a lease[761] was granted of the sixth house
westward from Charlotte Street, on the south side of the square. This
was No. 48.
[Illustration: GROUND FLOOR PLAN FIRST FLOOR PLAN.]