Appraisal

No. 29, Earlham Street, return elevation of No. 2, Short’s Gardens, formerly The Grapes PH

The three-storey, three-bay, painted stucco, classically detailed, southern elevation of the former pub fronting The Dials, listed under the address no. 29, Earlham Street, is comprised of two modestly projecting bays at first and second floor levels, containing aediculed window openings at first floor level and simpler, architraved window openings at second floor level, to each side of blind openings in the central bay at each level.

The elevation is contained within rusticated quoins at each end and a cornice and frieze extending along the elevation above the window openings at second floor level. The elevation at ground floor level is subdivided by four plain pilasters and matching capitals into five bays below a properly detailed cornice and frieze/fascia. The late-19th-century ‘grapes’ decorative tiling survives as a facing on the end pilasters as a reminder of the name of the original pub and was restored in the 1980s. The stucco is painted light grey and the window and door joinery painted dark green. There is a single, externally illuminated, elliptical sign projecting at first floor level towards to the right hand end of the elevation close to a projecting Covent Garden lantern. Three attractive flower boxes are located on the ledge above the cornice and frieze/fascia of the ground storey elevation.

A grade II listed building of particular special architectural and historic interest and considerable townscape value contributing substantially to the character, appearance and significance of the Seven Dials Conservation Area.