Is this the finest townhouse in Marylebone?

In the eighteenth century, Marylebone was transformed from villages and farmland on the edge of London to the smartest address in the capital. Centred on a series of grand squares laid out in the early Georgian Era, it was lined with terraces of attractive classical houses.

Thanks to this history, the W1 postcode is still home to some of London’s most well-preserved Georgian properties. One of the best examples is a Grade II* listed townhouse on Mansfield Street. Designed by the celebrated Scottish architects Robert and James Adam, it has recently come onto the market through Russell Simpson.

The Adam brothers were famous for the ‘Adam style’, which replaced the heavy formality of Palladian architecture with a more graceful neoclassicism. Their interiors are characterised by delicate stucco, slender mouldings, and softer colour schemes, as well as more variety in the size and layout of rooms.

Just as important, the Adam brothers oversaw every part of the construction process, from architectural outlines to interior furnishings. This gives their buildings a rare sense of harmony and made them the favourite architects of the English aristocracy

As a result, the brothers were in high demand during the mid-Georgian period. In the 1760s and ‘70s, they were recruited to work on Kenwood House in Hampstead, Pulteney Bridge in Bath, and many fine classical houses in London and Edinburgh.

The brothers were also responsible for numerous interiors, bringing a refined classicism to country estates such as Syon House, Harewood House, and Kedleston Hall. In fact, their lofty proportions, light-filled interiors and refined ornamentation still influence the popular ideal of the English home.

Mansfield Street is a perfect example. This unusually wide townhouse was designed by the brothers and completed in 1773 by their close collaborator, John Hobcraft. He worked for them on Audley End in Essex and Croome Court in Worcestershire, providing services as a master carpenter and builder.

Although the house has been sensitively updated, many of the interiors remain intact. This can be seen in the spectacular proportions, with double-height ceilings in the first-floor reception rooms and the light pouring down from the staircase hall.

The property’s original anteroom has been preserved, as well as the opulent drawing room ceiling. In addition, in the magnificent central hallway, the staircase ornamentation is unaltered, including a beautiful ironwork balustrade decorated with anthemion – a classical motif resembling palm leaves.

However, these historic details have been blended with modern convenience. The property also offers a lift, a contemporary kitchen, and a principal bedroom suite with an expansive bathroom. In addition, rarely for a Georgian townhouse in central London, it also offers garage parking on the far side of the courtyard garden.

Mansfield Street is not just a piece of architectural history, but also social history, thanks to its celebrated former residents. One year after the house was completed, it was acquired by the Irish politician Thomas Bermingham, who became the Earl of Louth.

Later, this address was the birthplace and childhood home of Rosalind Pitt-Rivers, the aristocratic biochemist who became one of Britain’s most admired scientists and played a major part in the modern understanding of thyroid hormones.

Therefore, the next owner of Mansfield Street will be acquiring a unique combination of heritage, spectacle, and first-class facilities. No wonder it has been called the finest townhouse in Marylebone.