General description and date of structure.
On 1st November, 1776, a lease[[748]] was also granted of the fifth house southward from Bedford Street, on the west side of the square, that is No. 32.
This house, which is in the centre of the west block, has a front (Plate 89) of less width than that of the corresponding house on the opposite side (Nos. 6 and 6A).
The entrance doorway is placed at the side, and enriched with Greek Doric attached columns.
The vestibule is divided from the hall by a screen with a semi-circular fanlight, and beyond this is another separating the staircase (Plate 90). The latter has two detached Ionic columns, each with a block architrave and frieze, and a cornice spanning across to the wall. The semi-circular arch above has the spandrils ornamented on both faces with decorative plaster designs, that facing the entrance being the more interesting.
The staircase is of stone with spandril treads, having moulded soffits. The handrail is of mahogany, and the balustrading of plain wrought iron bars, excepting that at the ends and the middle of each flight are ornamental balusters of scroll design giving interest to the treatment.
WROUGHT IRON STAIR BALUSTERS
The front room on the ground floor has an ornamental plaster ceiling of a more severe type than is met with generally in the houses of this square.
The back room on the same floor has also a good decorative plaster ceiling (Plate 92), and a white marble chimney piece with buff mottled marble lining and panelled pilasters (Plate 91).
The front room on the first floor has a chimneypiece of white marble, and the ceiling an ornamental centre and border.
The rear room contains a white marble chimneypiece with a sculptured central panel representing Britannia and Commerce. The ceiling is elaborately treated in ornamental plaster work (Plate 92).