Marylebone
Roam Marylebone for a Coade spotting fix! The area has a variety of standard Coade stone pieces – keystone heads, rustication, string courses, fascia – but also some unique works. As usual, I refer to Alison Kelly’s excellent listing in Mrs Coade’s Stone, adding ‘TS’ to my own finds.
Full disclosure: I was on a bike! This covers a lot of ground.
South-east Marylebone
All Souls Church, Portland Place. The Ionic capitals on the circular portico were made especially for the church, so the curious winged cherubs won’t be found elsewhere.
Porter’s Lodge, Stratford Place. Coming out of Bond Street tube, look across the street to this yellow-brick lodge. The lion is fabulous, as is the gryphon plaque. There had been a second lodge opposite, with the lions facing off; sadly that was demolished. Going into the Place, you’ll find rusticated blocks and voussoirs on number 16.
Central & North Marylebone
61-63 New Cavendish Street
19-56 Wimpole Street. About sixteen houses within these addresses have Coade stone.
Continuing north, the street turns into Upper Wimpole – check out 8, 10, 13, 20. It then becomes Devonshire Place – but at number 13 you won’t see 3 paterae between the second and third floor windows! I saw them a few years ago, but now only empty circles remain. Let’s hope they have gone for cleaning and not for auction!
66-145 Harley St, about forty addresses within this area. It’s everywhere!
117 Devonshire Street (TS)
115, 117, 107 Baker Street. There are four doorways; don’t miss the one on the east side of the street.
Portman Square and around
Home House, 20-21 Portman Square. Panels of oak swags, capitals, medallions, guilloche string-courses, paterae, bucrania. The pieces have been painted, which is not my preference – but at least it was tastefully and lightly done, so the detail is still evident. Be sure and walk around the corner to take it all in. Fabulous!
1A Duke Street, Manchester Square. This doorway has been particularly well cared for, and looks wonderful.
112 George Street (TS)
46 Blandford St (TS)
20-58 Manchester Street. Terraces of keystones from George Street going north. Minervas, laughing men, women with various hairstyles. Don’t miss the smiling woman keystone on number 47 – the stamp Coade’s Lithodipyra London is just visible on the underside.
