Bust

The Bayswater Athenaeum was built in 1863 by architect Arthur Billing of Newman and Billing. The name was originally inscribed in the panel above the first floor windows in raised Medieval letters. The Listing entry says that it was a Shakespearian Theatre but we think it was much more than that. An 1862 Trades Directory has 'Bayswater Athenaeum & Club' listed under the heading 'Literary and Scientific Institutions'. The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868 adds: "The Atheneum, in Westbourne-grove, has a large and handsome lecture-hall."

There are portrait roundels, larger than life-size, in the window spandrels: four on the third floor (A1-4), four on the second floor (B1-4) and three on the ground floor (C1-3).  We were pleased to find all portraits identified by Archiseek. We have numbered them left to right.

As we took the photo of the building we noticed how it and its neighbours all contribute to this pleasing streetscape: some new, some old, some ornate, some austere, none too tall, a rhythmic variety of elevations, each respecting the others. Why is this achieved so seldom?

Sources: Archiseek, Listing entry.