Page 56
Survey of London: Volume 10, St. Margaret, Westminster, Part I: Queen Anne's Gate Area. Originally published by [s.n.], [s.l.], 1926.
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In this section
XXIII.—No. 35 GREAT GEORGE STREET: (Demolished).
General Description and Date of Structure.
On 4th November, 1755, a lease was granted (fn. n1) to John Horne and William Wilkinson of a "peice or parcell of ground with the messuage "or tenement and all other erections and buildings now standing, erected "and built thereon, scituate" on the north side of Great George Street at the western corner of Delahay Street, containing 49 feet in front and rear and 39 feet at each side. From the words in italics it would certainly appear that the house was already in existence, and this is confirmed by the fact that in March, 1756, the remainder of the term was assigned (fn. n2) to Francis Lequesne "as security for the repayment of £850 and interest," an evident indication that it did not concern simply a vacant plot. And yet the house and its two fellows (Nos. 36 and 37) do not make their first appearance in the ratebooks until 1793 or later!
The exterior of these premises was in plain brickwork, and had the usual flat bands and cornice. The main front, however, was of a much greater width than that of the other houses in the street, and had quoins at each boundary, while the central doorway (fn. n3) was decorated with wood Roman Ionic columns (Plate 64). The return front to Delahay Street had brick recesses and bands, which had little relation to the main front. The interior had little of interest, with the exception of a few marble mantelpieces. A tablet from one on the first floor is illustrated.
Historical Notes.
The occupants of this house up to 1840, according to the ratebooks, were as follows:—
| 1793–1802 | (Sir) Thos. Turton. |
| 1803–10 | Commissary General's Office. |
| 1811–17 | Commander-in-Chief's Office. |
| 1818–36 | Chas. Short. |
| 1837– | Judge-Advocate-General. |
In the Council's Collection are:—
(fn. n4) General view of exterior (photograph).
(fn. n4) Entrance doorway (photograph).
Marble mantelpiece, ground-floor front room (photograph).
Marble mantelpiece, first-floor front room (photograph).
(fn. n4) Detail of central tablet to marble mantelpiece, first-floor front room (photograph).
Plaster cornice, first-floor front room (photograph).
(fn. n4) Ground and first-floor plans (measured drawing).