Environmental Study

King Street - North East

The best houses in King Street were sited on the northern side of the street, where some 18th century fabric survives, In the 18th century King Street lost its titled residents, but retained the character of a good-class residential street, with some shop fronts on the southern side. The design of No. 37, an attractive Palladian house built in 1773-4, is probably by James Paine the elder.

35 King Street
The arcaded ground floor is recent restoration work and cleverly done at the time, but the upper part of the building which had had all its original architectural detail shaved off was recently, and, alas, very poorly, restored. Originally there were quoins, string courses, pediments to the first floor windows and moulded architraves at second and third floor as well as a bold crowning cornice and balustraded parapet These features are recorded in photographs taken in 1938. A full-scale, accurate and scholarly restoration should one day be undertaken here. The stucco is painted traditional cream. The brass name plates are appropriately scaled and designed. The projecting first floor balconies were intended for flower pots or planters and it would be good to reinstate these.

36-37 King Street
The domestic appearance of the ground floor of these Georgian houses has been well restored although the shop front joinery could be painted in a stronger colour.

38 King Street: African Centre
This Georgian house has been well restored although the plywood subframe to the shopfront lets the side down. Painted timber joinery of a more solid form would be the best treatment here.

39 King Street
The shop front in its present condition is an eyesore. The original architectural framework with flanking pilasters survives and should be used as the basis for restoring a correctly detailed Victorian shopfront with full-height glazing, stall riser and painted and moulded joinery. The projecting sign with illuminated neon lettering is intrusive in the Conservation Area and should adopt a more sympathetic traditional approach.

40 King Street: Covent Garden General Store
This fine building is spoilt by the very poor shopfront and untidy displays. The garish clutter of Dunkin Donuts and ‘SALE’ signs is wholly inappropriate in this street and should not be given consent A properly detailed shopfront with pilasters, stallriser and entablature should replace this scrappy mess. The stock brick of the upper elevation would benefit from soot-washing and cornice.

42 King Street: Monro House
The upper part has been well cleaned. Clutton’s bold ground floor treatment with the rusticated arch has survived. The sign for Sheila’s restaurant with the bright yellow fascia and ugly red plastic lettering is an eyesore and enforcement action should be initiated to achieve its prompt removal if it does not comply with planning consent conditions approving details and materials. The best form of sign here would be individual painted or gilded letters on the window glass.