Summary
An C18 house including railings and gate.
Reasons for Designation
Kent House, 10 Lower Mall, London W6 is listed for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest:
* a good example of a mid-Georgian suburban house with an impressive façade facing the river Thames and having its original railings and servants’ wing.
Historical interest:
* the house demonstrates the fashion for villas built along the shores of the river in the C18 to the west of London.
Group Value:
* with other properties along Lower Mall including 8, 9, 11 and 12 Lower Mall (all Grade II).
History
Included as a fine C18 house with good surviving interiors, railings and servants' wing. The house later became a working man's club (a member of the Club and Institute Union): it added extensively to the rear of the house, with an extension of 1923 designed by the architect William Wadham, containing a billiard hall and a private theatre. The theatre is not regarded as of special interest.
Details
House. First recorded 1762 when newly built. Two shades of yellow brick, two storeys raised over basement; roof concealed behind parapets. Double range plan with projecting servants wing to rear.
EXTERIOR: Symmetrical front of three windows wide set between projecting bay windows also three windows wide. High parapets with stone modillion cornice, sash windows to bays with gauged brick heads. Windows to first floor centre have arched heads, those to sides with 'Y' tracery and that in centre tripartite with arched top light. Door in tripartite surround with C20 fanlight over, flanked by medallions and set under band. Rear elevation of stock brick with red gauged brick heads on ground floor and yellow gauged brick heads on first floor.
INTERIOR: Hallway may have been remodelled in early C19, as the curved staircase - set against curved wall - has simple stick balusters, and a blocked window (now concealed) suggests some alteration. Shallow cornice. The north wall, opposite the main entrance door, has a symmetrical composition comprising a panel set between a door and a false door. Former drawing room has C18 plaster ceiling, frieze and cornice, and fireplace with terms. Cornices and fireplace too in former library behind hall, and cornices in adjoining room, now divided. Many original doors, architraves and skirtings. First floor retains cornices to the principal rooms, notably in curved room at eastern end of rear elevation which has modillions and enriched mouldings, and a frieze of alternate flutes and paterae. The central rear room appears to contain the original fanlight from the entrance door as part of an internal partition. Basement contains two vaulted rooms, while one room lined in stone may have given access from the river front to a rear yard.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: wrought iron railings to front, ramped to central gateway (the latter renewed) and overthrow. Steps lead to raised ground floor.
