1 Heritage Report Flat 28, 43-53 Myddelton Square, EC1R 1YD Replacement of windows and door on rear elevation with matching windows 4D Planning, 86-90 Paul Street, 3rd Floor, London EC2A 4NE 2 Listed Buildings 43-53 Myddelton Square, EC1R 1YD is part of a terraced block consisting residential dwellings. The terrace, 31-57 Myddleton Square, is Grade II listed. The property was first listed in 29-Dec-1950. The listing refers to a terrace of 27 houses, some now flats, along the east and north sides of Myddelton Square, laid out 1824-1827 by William Chadwell Mylne, Surveyor to the New River Estate. Nos. 43-53 were rebuilt by the New River Company in 1947-48 following war damage. Nos. 31-57 Myddleton Square, a terrace of 1824-7, with Nos. 43-53 rebuilt after the Second World War, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Architectural interest: a well-proportioned terrace forming the north and north-east sides of Myddleton Square, possessing fine stucco and cast-iron details; * Historic Interest: a cohesive architectural language secured by the development of the Square by the New River Company, founded in 1622 by Sir Hugh Myddleton; * Alteration: Nos. 43-53 were rebuilt in the same idiom by the New River Company in 1947-48 following war damage, an early example of post-war conservation-inspired reconstruction which maintains the architectural cohesion of the group and contributes further to its historic interest; * Group Value: the terrace has a high degree of group value with the other terraces of the Square and with the Church of St Mark at its centre, all listed at Grade II, with which it forms an ensemble. History Myddelton Square, the largest square in Clerkenwell, was built as part of the New River Company’s early-to-mid C19 development of its estate, which comprised land surrounding the New River Head waterworks accumulated over two centuries. Plans for a large square with a church as its focus were commenced in 1818 by William Chadwell Mylne, Surveyor to the NRC; building began in 1823 and was completed in 1836. The square, named after the NRC founder Sir Hugh Myddelton, originally consisted of 73 houses by thirteen different builders; two extra houses were inserted on the south side in 1842-3 on a gap between Nos. 11 and 12, left vacant for a road to Sadler’s Wells which was never realised. 4D Planning, 86-90 Paul Street, 3rd Floor, London EC2A 4NE 3 Development of the square’s north side (Nos. 39-57) began in 1824-5, with Nos. 47-49 (James Armsby and Thomas Sowter) and No. 50 (John Bringloe); followed by Nos. 40-46 (1827-9, Arsmby & Sowter); Nos. 51-57 (1829-30, Richard Chapman), finishing in 1831-2 with No. 39 (Armsby & Sowter). The north- eastern return (Nos. 31-38) began in 1827-9 with Nos. 34-38 (William Harris); Nos. 31-33 (James Mansfield) were built 1829-33. The houses in the square followed a cohesive design with varying details; all are built in stock brick, of four storeys above a basement and with two bay façades. Nos. 39-49 did not receive the horizontally channelled stucco finish to the ground floor present on the other houses in the square. The square’s north side suffered serious damage in an air-raid of 11 January 1941, which virtually destroyed Nos. 43-53. These houses were rebuilt by the New River Company as a series of flats in 1947-8, comprising (from east to west) two blocks of five units and two blocks of ten. The work was probably overseen by Daniel Watney, Eiloart, Inman & Nunn. They were given a uniform façade which followed the form of the original with certain exceptions: four instead of the original eleven entrances were reinstated (reflecting the new internal layout); the iron balconets to the first-floor windows were omitted, as were the stucco ground-floor finishes to Nos. 50-54. A number of other houses have been subsequently been converted into flats. Appraisal: A terrace of 27 houses, some now flats, along the east and north sides of Myddelton Square, laid out 1824-1827 by William Chadwell Mylne, Surveyor to the New River Estate. Development of the square’s north side (Nos. 39-57) began in 1824-5, with Nos. 47-49 (by James Armsby and Thomas Sowter) and No. 50 (John Bringloe); followed by Nos. 40-46 (1827-9, Arsmby & Sowter); Nos. 51-57 (1829-30, Richard Chapman), finishing in 1831-2 with No. 39 (Armsby & Sowter). The north-eastern return (Nos. 31-38) began in 1827-9 with Nos. 34-38 (William Harris); Nos. 31-33 (James Mansfield) were built 1829-33. Nos. 43-53 constructed 1947-1948 following the destruction of the original in the Second World War, also for the New River Estate and probably overseen by Daniel Watney, Eiloart, Inman & Nunn. MATERIALS: yellow stock brick set in Flemish bond with banded stucco ground-floor (except nos. 39-53) and stucco dressings. The roofs are obscured by parapets, but the party wall stacks are of brick. PLAN: side-hall entrance plan, except to Nos. 43-53. EXTERIOR: four storeys with basements, with two window bays to each dwelling. The right-hand return wall to No. 31 in Chadwell Street and left-hand return wall to No. 57 in Mylne Street have one-storey stucco portico entrances. Steps rise to irregularly spaced round or elliptical-arched entrances. The jambs of the doorways have 1/4 fluted columns (Nos. 31-32 & 39-42 have pilasters) carrying corniced-= heads with fanlights (Nos. 31-32, 36-40, 43-53, flats 1-30 patterned) and original panelled doors to Nos.32, 34, 36-39 and 54-55. The fenestration comprises ground-floor round and elliptical-arched sashes (some with margin lights) set in stucco recesses with panels below. There are gauged-brick, flat-arched, mostly six-over-six and three-over-three sashes to 4D Planning, 86-90 Paul Street, 3rd Floor, London EC2A 4NE 4 the upper floors (some French doors). On the first floor there is a stucco sill band beneath full-length sashes set in arched recesses linked by stucco impost bands and with iron-bracketed, coupled cast-iron balconies (except to Nos. 43-53 which are missing) with Vitruvian scroll and anthemion patterns to the railings. Some rebuilding has occurred to the upper floors; the plain brick parapet has a brick string course and stone coping. Nos. 43-53 have extensive alterations to the fenestration including the changing of Nos. 47-49 & 51-52 doors to windows during the C20 rebuild; renumbering also took place. A plaque to the right of original No. 46 (now called flats 11-20 of 43-53) reads: '43-53 Myddelton Square destroyed by enemy action on 11th January 1941 Rebuilt 1947-1948 by The New River Company'. The rear elevation of these dwellings has projecting concrete and brick extensions and fenestration of 1947-8 and later and is not of special interest. INTERIOR: not inspected. It is understood that the interiors of Nos. 43-53 date entirely to 1947-1948 and are not of special interest. SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: attached there are cast-iron railings with urn finials. Sources Sources were brought down from historicengland.org.uk website. These also include: Books and journals Cosh, M, The Squares of Islington: Part One Finsbury and Clerkenwell, (1990), 59-62 Saint, A, Survey of London: Volume 47: Northern Clerkenwell and Pentonville, (2008), 203-8 National Grid Reference: TQ 31359 83005 New Area Conservation Area The area includes the site of the New River Head, with its historic industrial and water buildings and Sadler's Wells Theatre, while the rest of the area mainly comprises late 18th and early 19th century residential estates built by the New River Company, the Brewer's Company and the Lloyd Baker Estate. These include some of the finest terraces and squares in the Borough. The area has a rare quality and consistency of scale, materials, design and detailing which require careful and sensitive policies for its protection and enhancement. The current legislation relating to conservation areas is contained within the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Changes to conservation areas and the creation of new conservation areas can be carried at anytime as part of ongoing assessment by the council. There will be public consultation when any changes are proposed to Islington's conservation areas. 4D Planning, 86-90 Paul Street, 3rd Floor, London EC2A 4NE 5 Proposed Development The proposal includes the replacement of the existing crittall windows in bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and balcony door with CRITTALL STEEL double glazed frame windows and door to match existing. See Full Planning Application P2016/3384/FUL also submitted. Sustainability and Conclusion The proposal includes: Replacement of five windows and door with steel windows and door to match the existing windows and doors in the building. Attached to the application is the window schedule and specifications from the manufacturer. Currently the windows leak and there is condensation and dampness in the property. There is also a draft of air coming in from the windows and these harm the fabric of the listed building and are an inconvenience to the occupants. The proposal will seek to improve the environmental performance of the flat and overall building as much as possible, if it can be carried out without impacting on the character and setting of the heritage asset. The proposal will prevent damp, cold and hot air slipping through and harm to the flat and wider heritage asset.