Riceyman Steps
RICEYMAN STEPS, GWYNNE PLACE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1210131
- Date first listed:
- 30-Sept-1994
- List Entry Name:
- Riceyman Steps
- Statutory Address:
- RICEYMAN STEPS, GWYNNE PLACE
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2004-05-17
- Reference:
- IOE01/09091/14
- Rights:
- © Peter Fuller. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1210131
- Date first listed:
- 30-Sept-1994
- List Entry Name:
- Riceyman Steps
- Statutory Address 1:
- RICEYMAN STEPS, GWYNNE PLACE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- RICEYMAN STEPS, GWYNNE PLACE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Islington (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 30926 82625
Details
ISLINGTON
TQ3082NE GWYNNE PLACE 635-1/67/435 (East side) Riceyman Steps
GV II
Flight of 20 steps, formerly 'Plum Pudding Steps' now 'Riceyman Steps'. Pedestrian access connecting Gwynne Place and thus King's Cross Road to Granville Square: functions as only entrance to square from west where ground falls sharply away; situated between exterior side walls of two houses (nos. 33 & 34) (q.v.) in Granville Square. 1841-1843; possibly rebuilt mid C19. Original design probably by John Booth, Surveyor to the Lloyd Baker Estate. Granite steps with York paving stones to landings. Bottom two steps lead to 1st landing; next flight of 15 steps leads to 2nd landing; top flight of 11 steps enters Granville Square. Bottom two steps approximately 20 feet in width; upper flights approximately 15 feet wide. In the 1850s the Metropolitan Railway was constructed beneath the SW corner of Granville Square and nos. 29-38 were demolished and rebuilt in 1864-1865. Gwynne Place, originally called Granville Place, below the steps was essentially destroyed in the Second World War. In the 1960s Gwynne Place was demolished to build a car park but the steps remained. In 1971 the London Ryan Hotel was planned to straddle the steps but they were again retained. Always known locally as 'Plum Pudding Steps' until 1923 when they were popularized as 'Riceyman Steps' in honour of Arnold Bennett's novel of the same name. (The Squares of Islington: Cosh, Mary: The Squares of Islington Part I: Finsbury and Clerkenwell: Islington: 1990-: 49).
Listing NGR: TQ3092682625
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 368943
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Cosh, M, The Squares of Islington in Finsbury and Clerkenwell, (1990), 49
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 13-Jun-2026 at 16:48:06.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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