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Appraisal

The Crown, P.H., no. 43, Monmouth Street

Located on the north-western side of The Dials, there have been licensed premises on this site since the beginning of the 18^th century. They were recorded as being run by Richard Reynalls in 1702. The original brick building is depicted in Hodges' painting of Seven Dials c. 1750.

The present elevations in handsome stuccoed Grecian style date from the mid-19^th century and were designed by W.F. Hill and E.L. Paraire. With three-storey frontages to The Dials, Monmouth Street and Short’s Gardens, The Crown is listed at grade II and is the most distinguished building facing The Dials, with highly modelled classically detailed stucco elevations at first and second floor levels, now handsomely painted in cream and white, above richly modelled faience elevations in various tones of amber and brown at ground floor level, added in the early years of the 20^th century.

Like the elevation to Short’s Gardens, the elevation to Monmouth Street at first and second floor levels comprises three bays separated by pilasters. Between these three-bay elevations, there is a wide, single bay frontage to The Dials, with pilasters to each side. A glazed clock face set within the tall parapet at roof level is an attractive feature of the frontage to The Dials.

Originally, the façade was topped off with a small dome and a large gilded crown which were among the more idiosyncratic ornaments of the area. Regrettably, the fascias of the faience frontages to Monmouth Street, The Dials and Short’s Gardens and their lettering have been concealed by painted timber boards carrying applied lettering externally illuminated from above by striplights. However, the attractively painted, externally illuminated, projecting hanging signs on the frontages to Monmouth Street and Short’s Gardens balance the lesser quality of the fascia signs.

The appearance of the street elevations at first floor level are spoilt by the fixing of a series of large floodlights on the bases of the pilasters and the street elevations at ground floor level are spoilt by the fixing of small ‘Windsor’ lanterns and supporting brackets on the faience pilasters. A bronze Seven Dials Time Plaque is fixed to the right hand side of the main entrance.

A property of both special architectural and historic interest and particular townscape value, contributing positively to the character, appearance and significance of the Seven Dials Conservation Area.

Consideration should be given to the removal of the existing large floodlights on the bases of the pilasters and the substitution with more discreet floodlighting of the upper storeys of each street elevation and to revealing and appropriate external lighting of the faience fascias.